Evolving clinical evidence for selective internal radiation therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

*Correspondence: Professor Pierce Chow MBBS MMed, FAMS, FRCSE, PhD, DukeNUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857. Tel: +65 6326 6450; fax: +65 6220 9323. E-mail address: pierce.chow@duke-nus.edu.sg (P. Chow); Prof. Dr. J. Ricke, Direktor, Klinik fur Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Universitatsklinikum Magdeburg AoR, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Tel.: +39 1 67 13030. E-mail address: Jens.ricke@med.ovgu.de (J. Ricke). Professor V. Vilgrain, Radiologie, Hopital Beaujon, 100, boulevard du General Leclerc, Clichy Cedex 9211, France. E-mail address: valerie.vilgrain@bjn.aphp.fr (V. Vilgrain). treatment. 2 However, for patients with inoperable local disease, both sorafenib and locoregional treatments are recommended in the absence of a recognised firstline treatment. 2 The current evidence indicates that for patients with intermediate (BCLC stage B) HCC, median overall survival is ~14 months with sorafenib 3,4 (level 1 evidence) and ~17 months with the locoregional treatment, selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) (level 2 evidence). 5,6 In the light of the encouraging data with SIRT in inoperable HCC, a number of prospective clinical trials are currently being conducted both in the Asia-Pacific as well as in Europe. The results of these trials will define the role of SIRT in the management of HCC.