90Y radioembolization versus chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: an analysis of comparative effectiveness

The Role of 18F-FLT PET/CT in Assessing Early Response to Transarterial Radioembolization and Chemoembolization in Patients with Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors

Objectives

Metastases and primary malignancies are common in the liver. Local ablative applications such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) provide minimally invasive and safe treatment in unresectable liver tumors. Early detection of response to treatment prevents unnecessary toxicity and cost in non-responder patients and provides an earlier use of other options that may be effective. This study aimed to identify the role of ¹⁸F-fluorothymidine (FLT) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the assessment of early response to TACE and TARE treatments in patients with unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors.

Methods

This single-center study included 63 patients who underwent ¹⁸F-FLT PET/CT for response evaluation after TACE and TARE. After excluding 20 patients whose data were missing 43 TARE-receiving patients were analyzed. The compatibility of change in semi-quantitative values obtained from the ¹⁸F-FLT PET/CT images with the treatment responses detected in ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT, CT, and MR images and survival was evaluated.

Results

There was no correlation between early metabolic, morphological response, and ¹⁸F-FLT uptake pattern, and change in standardized uptake values (SUV) which were ΔSUV_max, ΔSUV_mean, ΔSUV_peak., ΔSUV_mean, Δ SUV_peak values. There was no significant correlation between ¹⁸F-FLT uptake pattern, ΔSUV_max, ΔSUV_mean, ΔSUV_peak, and overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS) for the target lobe PFS for the whole-body. The survival distributions for the patients with >30% change in Δ SUV_max and ΔSUV_peak values were statistically significantly longer than the patients with <30% change (p<0.009 and p<0.024, respectively).

Conclusion

There was significant longer PFS for target liver lobe in patients with more than 30% decrease in ¹⁸F-FLT SUV_max and SUV_peak of the liver lesion in primary and metastatic unresectable liver tumors undergoing TARE.

Yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization versus conventional transarterial chemoembolization for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:

To compare the effects and safety of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) and yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization [TARE (90Y)] for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Methods:

Nine high-quality observational studies, one low bias-risk randomized controlled trial (RCT), and one moderate bias-risk RCT included 1,652 patients [cTACE, 1,124; TARE (90Y), 528], from whom data were extracted for this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Results:

The extracted study outcomes included 1-year and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates, objective responses (ORs), and serious adverse events (AEs). 1-year OS rates: OR = 0.939, 95 % CI: 0.705-1.251, P = 0.66. 2-year OS rates: overall pooled OR = 0.641, 95% CI: 0.382-1.075, P = 0.092; observational study subgroup OR = 0.575, 95% CI: 0.336-0.984, P = 0.043; RCT subgroup OR* = 0.641, 95% CI: 0.382-1.075, P = 0.346. OR: overall pooled OR = 0.781, 95% CI: 0.454-1.343, P = 0.371; mRECIST subgroup OR = 0.584, 95 % CI: 0.349-0.976, P = 0.040; WHO subgroup OR = 1.065; 95% CI: 0.500-2.268, P = 0.870. Serious AEs: overall pooled RR = 1.477, 95% CI: 0.864-2.526, P = 0.154; RCT subgroup RR = 0.680, 95% CI: 0.325-1.423, P = 0.306; observational study subgroup RR = 1.925; 95 % CI: 0.978-3.788, P = 0.058.

Conclusions:

TARE (90Y) increased 2-year OS rates in the observational subgroup and resulted in better OR rates, according to mRECIST criteria, in comparison with cTACE. Furthermore, a lower risk of AEs was observed for TARE (90Y) than for cTACE.

Meta-analysis: adjusted indirect comparison of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization versus 90Y-radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate comparative effectiveness of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) versus Yttrium-90 (⁹⁰Y)-radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Studies comparing conventional (c)TACE versus ⁹⁰Y-radioembolization or DEB-TACE for HCC treatment were identified using PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The adjusted indirect meta-analytic method for effectiveness comparison of DEB-TACE versus ⁹⁰Y-radioembolization was used. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare baseline characteristics. A priori defined sensitivity analysis of stratified study subgroups was performed for primary outcome analyses. Publication bias was tested by Egger's and Begg's tests.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies comparing DEB-TACE or ⁹⁰Y-radioembolization with cTACE were included. Analysis revealed a 1-year overall survival benefit for DEB-TACE over ⁹⁰Y-radioembolization (79 % vs. 54.8 %; OR: 0.57; 95 %CI: 0.355-0.915; p = 0.02; I-squared: 0 %; p > 0.5), but not for the 2-year (61 % vs. 34 %; OR: 0.65; 95%CI: 0.294-1.437; p = 0.29) and 3-year survival (56.4 % vs. 20.9 %; OR: 0.713; 95 % CI: 0.21-2.548; p = 0.62). There was significant heterogeneity in the 2- and 3-year survival analyses. The pooled median overall survival was longer for DEB-TACE (22.6 vs. 14.7 months). There was no significant difference in tumour response rate.

CONCLUSION

DEB-TACE and ⁹⁰Y-radioembolization are efficacious treatments for patients suffering from HCC; DEB-TACE demonstrated survival benefit at 1-year compared to ⁹⁰Y-radioembolization but direct comparison is warranted for further evaluation.

KEY POINTS

• This meta-analysis shows greater 1-year survival benefit for DEB-TACE over ⁹⁰ Y-radioembolization. • DEB-TACE has a favourable 2- & 3-year survival benefit trend over ⁹⁰ Y-radioembolization. • No significant difference for tumour response was detected. • Direct comparison of these methods for a more robust evaluation is warranted.

Transarterial Radioembolization with Yttrium-90 for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cause of worldwide mortality. Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with yttrium-90 (Y90), a transcatheter intra-arterial procedure performed by interventional radiology, has become widely utilized in managing HCC.

Methods

The following is a focused review of TARE covering its commercially available products, clinical considerations of treatment, salient clinical trial data establishing its utility, and the current and future roles of TARE in the management of HCC.

Results

TARE is indicated for patients with unresectable, intermediate stage HCC. The two available products are glass and resin microspheres. All patients undergoing TARE must be assessed with a history, physical examination, clinical laboratory tests, imaging, and arteriography with macroaggregated albumin. TARE is safe and effective in the treatment of unresectable HCC, as it has a safer toxicity profile than chemoembolization, longer time-to-progression, greater ability to downsize and/or bridge patients to liver transplant, and utility in tumor complicated by portal vein thrombosis. TARE can also serve as an alternative to ablation and chemotherapy.

Conclusion

TARE assumes an integral role in the management of unresectable HCC and has been validated by numerous studies.