Effect of yttrium-90 radioembolization on outcomes in Asian patients with early to advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of yttrium-90 radioembolization on the outcome of Asian patients with early to advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Sixty-two patients were screened and 50 patients (80.6%) were eligible. Response was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), and overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.


RESULTS
The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage was A in 40% of patients, B in 24%, and C in 36%; 66% of patients had hepatitis B virus infections. According to RECIST criteria, partial responses occurred in 40% of patients, and stable disease was achieved in 46%. Tumor response was significantly associated with BCLC stage (P = 0.003). The median overall time to progression was 5.8 months (range, 0.9-46.1 months). Follow-up treatments after radioembolization were carried out in 31 patients due to remnant HCC (n = 18) or HCC progression (n = 13). The median overall survival was 40.9 months (95% confidence interval, 10.2-71.6 months). Treatment was tolerable except for one lung toxicity and two hepatic toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
Yttrium-90 radioembolization appears to be well tolerated and effective in Asian patients with BCLC stage A-C HCC. Follow-up treatments after radioembolization can be safely provided.
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Hyun Young
HY
Woo
Departments of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Do Young
DY
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Jeong
J
Heo
Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Chang Won
CW
Kim
Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Suk
S
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Ki Tae
KT
Yoon
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Won
W
Lim
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Young Mi
YM
Hong
Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Jong Yun
JY
Won
Departments of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Sangheun
S
Lee
Departments of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Kwang Hyub
KH
Han
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Mong
M
Cho
hepatocellular carcinoma; radioembolization; yttrium-90