Analysis of prognostic factors after yttrium-90 radioembolization of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze which patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors may influence outcome after (90)Y radioembolization ((90)Y-RE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Seventy-two consecutive patients with advanced HCC treated with (90)Y-RE were studied to detect which factors may have influenced response to treatment and survival.


RESULTS
Median overall survival was 13 months (95% confidence interval, 9.6-16.3 months). In univariate analysis, survival was significantly better in patients with one to five lesions (19 vs. 8 months, p = 0.001) and in patients with alpha-fetoprotein <52 UI/mL (24 vs. 11 months, p = 0.002). The variation in target tumor size and the appearance of new lesions were analyzed among 50 patients with measurable tumors. A decrease in target tumor size was observed in most patients, and the intensity of such decrease was not associated with any of the factors under study. Patients who developed new lesions in the treated liver (and also in the nontargeted liver) at month 3 more frequently had more than five nodules, bilobar disease, and alpha-fetoprotein >52 UI/mL, and their survival in the multivariate analysis was significantly worse (hazard ratio, 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 13-1.73) (p = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Yttrium-90 radioembolization results in control of target lesions in the majority of patients with HCC but does not prevent the development of new lesions. Survival of patients treated with (90)Y-RE seems to depend largely on factors related to the aggressiveness of the disease (number of nodules, levels of alpha-fetoprotein, and presence of microscopic disease).
Iñarrairaegui
Mercedes
M
Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinica Universitaria de Navarrra, Pamplona, Spain.
Martinez-Cuesta
Antonio
A
Rodríguez
Macarena
M
Bilbao
J Ignacio
JI
Arbizu
Javier
J
Benito
Alberto
A
Alegre
Félix
F
D'Avola
Delia
D
Herrero
J Ignacio
JI
Quiroga
Jorge
J
Prieto
Jesús
J
Sangro
Bruno
B
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D047368:Tumor Burden; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins