Transarterial Radioembolization Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer Patients with Liver-Dominant Metastatic Disease Using Yttrium-90 Glass Microspheres: A Single-Institution Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with yttrium-90 (90Y)-labeled glass microspheres in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients with liver-dominant metastatic disease.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This retrospective, single-center study evaluated 26 patients (12 men and 14 women; mean age, 65.5 ± 11.2 years) with liver-dominant metastatic pancreatic cancer who were treated with TARE from April 2010 to September 2017. All patients received systemic chemotherapy before TARE, and 19 received systemic therapy after embolization. Nineteen patients had extrahepatic disease at the time of TARE. Response to treatment was determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors at 3 months.

RESULTS

Median overall survival (OS) from pancreatic cancer diagnosis was 33.0 months (range, 8.5-87.5 months); median OS from diagnosis of liver metastasis was 21.8 months (range, 2.0-86.2 months); and median OS from TARE treatment was 7.0 months (range, 1.0-84.1 months). Grade 1-2 clinical toxicities were noted in 21 patients (80.8%), and 24 patients (92.3%) had grade 1-2 biochemical toxicities. Four patients (15.4%) had grade 3 clinical toxicities, and 6 patients (23.1%) had grade 3 biochemical toxicities. Imaging was available in 22 patients (84.6%) and demonstrated partial response in 1 patient, stable disease in 9 patients, and progressive disease in 12 patients. Improved hepatic progression-free survival was associated in patients younger than 65 years and in those whose carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level decreased or remained stable after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

TARE with 90Y-labeled glass microspheres is safe and led to promising OS in liver-dominant metastatic pancreatic cancer.