Selective Internal Radiotherapy (Radioembolization) and Radiation Therapy for HCC - Current Status and Perspectives

Microsphere and particle technologies for the selective transport of tumoricidal agents or radiation represent a new generation of therapeutics in interventional oncology. The intrahepatic application of radioactive microspheres via the hepatic artery, for instance, allows locoregional therapy of diffuse or multifocal liver tumours, for which to date systemic therapy was the only remaining option. Current standards for this selective internal radiotherapy or radioembolisation are 90-yttrium glass or resin microspheres. Indication, technique, and the current results are extensively discussed. In addition to 90-yttrium microspheres, other radiopharmaceuticals, such as 131-iodine or 188-rhenium lipiodol, have been successful used for SIRT. As a result of new, more selective radiation techniques, internal radiotherapy for the locoregional treatment of HCC has been recently complemented by an increasing use of percutaneous radiotherapy.