MDS Nordion of Ottawa, Ontario, announced that the first large European study using yttrium-90 (Y-90) glass microspheres has been published on the use of TheraSphere, a radioembolization therapy for the localized treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or primary liver cancer.
According to the company, the study concluded that radioembolization with TheraSphere is both safe and effective. Researchers also found that the overall survival rate was similar to that reported in another recently published large study analyzing Y-90 glass microspheres for the treatment of HCC.
The research, conducted at MDS Nordion's European Centre of Excellence in Essen, Germany, was published online and is scheduled to appear in the November issue of Hepatology. The lead author of the study was hepatologist Philip Hilgard, MD.
The study analyzed 108 patients, none of whom were eligible for conventional locoregional therapies. Patients achieved a median overall survival of 16.4 months with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue, even in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis or portal vein thrombosis.
No lung or visceral toxicity was observed. The most frequently observed adverse event was transient fatigue syndrome.
Hilgard said the outcomes of the study were not unexpected, adding that it was extremely important to be able to substantiate and verify the treatment. He and his colleagues noted that the study's results will help give more patients access to this advanced therapy.
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![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnieeurope.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
