Optimizing Y90 Therapy for Radiation Lobectomy

Yttrium-90 Radiation Lobectomy: Dose Optimization and Prediction of FLR Hypertrophy to Enable Resection of HCC

HCC resection candidates with inadequate future liver remnant will be enrolled in this study. They will be treated with Y90 radioembolization to help grow the liver enough to undergo liver resection. There will be 2 Patient Groups. The first group of patients will be treated with Y90 dose and embolic load as per standard-of-care. The second group of patients will be treated with the optimal Y90 dose and embolic load found in Patient Group 1.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: HCC; Metastatic Cancer; Transplant; Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Resection
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Y90 radioembolization

Detailed Description

In this study there will be 2 different patient groups 1 and 2 that will consist of 40 and 64 patients, respectively with hepatocellular carcinoma who are eligible for resection and to receive Y90 radioembolization who have inadequate future liver remnant.

Y90 radioembolization uses radioactive beads (microspheres), which are tiny glass particles that are loaded with radiation. The beads are injected into an artery of the liver that supplies blood to the tumor(s). The beads flow to the tumor(s) and become trapped inside. The beads release the Y90 radiation inside the tumor(s).

Liver resection is used to remove the part of the liver that has the HCC tumor(s). It has been shown that Y90 radioembolization can also increase the untreated liver's size and volume. Patients with HCC may be liver resection candidates if they have a large enough liver.

The purpose of this research is to determine if there is an ideal Y90 dose to increase liver volume of the future liver remnant. This research may help determine the best Y90 dose for future patients who need a larger liver to have a liver resection.

Participants in Group 1 will have standard-of-care Y90 radioembolization as well as study-specific optional liver biopsy.

Participants who already have a planned Y90 radioembolization treatment with the dose range established in Group 1 will be enrolled into Group 2. Patient Group 2 will have blood drawn and a quantitative MRI performed at specific timepoints.

The study will last up to 3 months. Participants' health status will be followed up to 5 years.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 104

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Kristie Kennedy, MA; Phone Number: 312-695-4023; Email: kristie.kennedy@northwestern.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Robert Lewandowski, MD; Phone Number: 312-695-9121; Email: r-lewandowki@northwestern.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32224
      • Active, not recruiting
      • Mayo Clinic
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Recruiting
      • Northwestern University
      • Contact: Kristie Kennedy, MA; Phone Number: 312-695-4023; Email: kristie.kennedy@northwestern.edu
      • Contact: Robert Lewandowski, MD; Phone Number: 312-695-9121; Email: r-lewandowski@northwestern.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Robert Lewandowski, MD
      • Principal Investigator: Jeremy Collins, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients 18 years and older with HCC who are eligible to receive standard-of-care Y90 radioembolization and are hepatic resection candidates with inadequate future liver remnant

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients must have been diagnosed with HCC confirmed by histology or must meet one of the following American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) guidelines:

   • AFP >200 and radiological evidence (arterial hypervascularity) of lesion > 2 cm does not require biopsy
   • Two imaging modalities (triphasic CT, MRI, ultrasound, angiography) demonstrating arterial hypervascularity in the background of cirrhosis does not require biopsy
   • One imaging modality with a lesion with arterial hypervascularity with wash out in early or delayed venous phase, does not require a biopsy
2. Child-Pugh stage A
3. Future Liver Remnant (FLR) of < 40%
4. ECOG Performance Status 0-1
5. Bilirubin ≤ 3.0 mg/dl- Treatment may proceed if the Bilirubin is elevated if the tumor may be isolated from a vascular standpoint
6. Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dl
7. ANC ≥ 1.5 K/uL
8. Platelets > 25 K/uL
9. Patient is willing participate in this study and has signed the consent

10. For Group 2 patients only:

    • Patients planned Y90 dose and embolic load is found to fall within the optimal dose and embolic load size from data from Group 1 patients

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient must not be pregnant

   NOTE: A FOCBP is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria:

   • Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy
   • Has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months (and therefore has not been naturally postmenopausal for > 12 months)

2. For Patients in Group 2 only:

   • Patients who have contraindications to MRI:

     • Patients that are claustrophobic and haven't been able to tolerate an MRI in the past. (Patients with mild claustrophobia are eligible and have the option to take

       1mg oral Lorazepam prior to the MRI, if needed)

     • Allergy to gadolinium-containing contrast media
     • Patients with a pacemaker, metallic clip, aneurysm clips, shrapnel fragments, etc.
     • Patients with an eGFR < 30 mL/min/m²
3. Must not have any significant life-threatening extra-hepatic disease or life- threatening secondary malignancies, including patients who are on dialysis, have unresolved diarrhea, have serious unresolved infections including patients who are known to be HIV positive or have acute HBV or HCV
4. Must not have any contraindications to angiography and selective visceral catheterization such as bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy that is not correctable by usual therapy of hemostatic agents (e.g. closure device)
5. Must not have any co-morbid disease or condition that would place the patient at undue risk and preclude safe use of TheraSphere treatment, in the Investigator's judgment

6. History of severe peripheral allergy or intolerance to contrast agents, narcotics, sedatives or atropine that cannot be managed medically

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Patient Group 1: Y90 Standard-of-Care; The first group of patients will be treated with Y90 dose and embolic load as per standard-of-care	Device: Y90 radioembolization; Patients with HCC who are eligible to receive standard-of-care Y90 radioembolization and are hepatic resection candidates with inadequate future liver remnant; Other Names: Patient Group 1: Y90 Standard-of-Care; Patient Group 2: Y90 Dose determined by results from Group 1
Patient Group 2: Y90 Dose determined by results from Group 1; The second group of patients will be treated with the optimal Y90 dose and embolic load found in Patient Group 1	Device: Y90 radioembolization; Patients with HCC who are eligible to receive standard-of-care Y90 radioembolization and are hepatic resection candidates with inadequate future liver remnant; Other Names: Patient Group 1: Y90 Standard-of-Care; Patient Group 2: Y90 Dose determined by results from Group 1

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patient Group 1: Y90 Glass Microspheres	Measure the distribution of Y90 glass microspheres throughout the tumor and non-tumor hepatic parenchyma, as assessed by same day post-radioembolization study-specific non-FDG PET/CT scan.	2 years
Patient Group 1: Sphere distribution	Sphere distribution will be correlated with mean lobar absorbed radiation dose, embolic load, and time taken to achieve adequate Future Liver Remnant (>40% of total liver volume) to determine optimal lobar dose and embolic load.	2 years
Patient Group 2: Quantitative Imaging Radiologic Biomarkers	Quantitative MRIs and biomarkers drawn will assess the association of circulating and imaging biomarkers on Future Liver Remnant hypertrophy. Tropic factor biomarkers to be drawn include: hepatocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, insulin-like growth factor binding protein, vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, and phosphorus level.	3 years
Patient Group 2: HCC Resection	Assess progression-free survival between patients with HCC who underwent resection following Y90 radioembolization and those who presented with an adequate Future Liver Remnant for resection (i.e. who were not treated pre-surgically).	3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwestern University
• Collaborators: Mayo Clinic
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jeremy Collins, MD, Mayo Clinic; Principal Investigator: Robert Lewandowski, MD, Northwestern University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 17, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): May 15, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 23, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: HCC; Liver Cancer; Liver Transplant; Liver Resection; Y90 Radioembolization
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Digestive System Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Liver Diseases; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Adenocarcinoma; Neoplastic Processes; Carcinoma; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Neoplasm Metastasis; Liver Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU00209629

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No