Y90unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/fon-2017-0022


Drug Evaluation
Yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolization in unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Cristina Mosconi*mce-anchor^,1mce-anchor, Alberta Cappellimce-anchor¹mce-anchor, Salvatore Ascaniomce-anchor¹mce-anchor, Irene Pettinarimce-anchor¹mce-anchor, Francesco Modestinomce-anchor¹mce-anchor, Matteo Renzullimce-anchor¹mce-anchor, Maria Cristina Galavernimce-anchor¹mce-anchor, Alessandro Cucchettimce-anchor²mce-anchor, Annagiulia Gramenzimce-anchor³mce-anchor, Cinzia Pettinatomce-anchor⁴mce-anchor & Rita Golfierimce-anchor¹mce-anchor
*Author for correspondence: [email protected]

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is increasing in frequency worldwide, but radical surgical treatment is practicable in 30–40% of cases. The median survival without therapy is about 8 months, increased to 12 months in combination with systemic chemotherapy. Therefore, locoregional therapies, such as, radiofrequency ablation or transarterial chemoembolization have been employed. Radioembolization with yttrium-90 microspheres (⁹⁰Y-TARE) is a novel intrarterial treatment which could be included in the armamentarium of treatment options, having shown higher median survival (up to 22 months) and low complication rates. Evidence-based algorithms for staging and allocation to treatment should be defined in the future, after robust results obtained through randomized controlled trials, thus establishing the exact role and timing of ⁹⁰Y-TARE in the treatment protocol of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.