New insights into benefits of combination treatment with yttrium-90 and gemcitabine in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

[摘要] The treatment of patients with irresectable hepatic metastases of pancreatic cancer (PC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains challenging despite growing therapeutic options and providing adequate palliative care always includes the decision between quality of life and most effective oncologic results. Gemcitabine is a relatively well tolerated substance but median overall survival of patients with PC or ICC with metastases treated with gemcitabine monotherapy was reported 5.7 (1) and 8.1 (2), respectively. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) or transarterial radioembolization (TARE) has emerged as a treatment option for patients with primary or secondary hepatic malignancies that are usually not eligible for surgical treatment (3,4). Microspheres loaded with yttrium-90 ( 90Y) are applied in the hepatic artery after radiologically guided selective catheterization allowing for a more precise radiation of tumor tissue while only mildly affecting liver tissue.

[学科分类] 肿瘤学