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Review
. 2020 Apr;11(2):443-460.
doi: 10.21037/jgo.2020.01.09.

Role of yttrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy in the treatment of liver-dominant metastatic colorectal cancer: an evidence-based expert consensus algorithm

Affiliations
Review

Role of yttrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy in the treatment of liver-dominant metastatic colorectal cancer: an evidence-based expert consensus algorithm

D Rohan Jeyarajah et al. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases is associated with greater survival compared with non-surgical treatment, and a meaningful possibility of cure. However, the majority of patients are not eligible for resection and may require other non-surgical interventions, such as liver-directed therapies, to be converted to surgical eligibility. Given the number of available therapies, a general framework is needed that outlines the specific roles of chemotherapy, surgery, and locoregional treatments [including selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with Y-90 microspheres]. Using a data-driven, modified Delphi process, an expert panel of surgical oncologists, transplant surgeons, and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgeons convened to create a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment algorithm that includes appropriate treatment options for patients stratified by their eligibility for surgical treatment. The group coined a novel, more inclusive phrase for targeted locoregional tumor treatment (a blanket term for resection, ablation, and other emerging locoregional treatments): local parenchymal tumor destruction therapy. The expert panel proposed new nomenclature for 3 distinct disease categories of liver-dominant metastatic colorectal cancer that is consistent with other tumor types: (I) surgically treatable (resectable); (II) surgically untreatable (borderline resectable); (III) advanced surgically untreatable (unresectable) disease. Patients may present at any point in the algorithm and move between categories depending on their response to therapy. The broad intent of therapy is to transition patients toward individualized treatments where possible, given the survival advantage that resection offers in the context of a comprehensive treatment plan. This article reviews what is known about the role of SIRT with Y-90 as neoadjuvant, definitive, or palliative therapy in these different clinical situations and provides insight into when treatment with SIRT with Y-90 may be appropriate and useful, organized into distinct treatment algorithm steps.

Keywords: Metastatic colorectal cancer; local parenchymal tumor destruction therapy; selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT); transarterial radioembolization; yttrium-90.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jgo.2020.01.09). Authors received an honorarium for Advisory Board attendance that served as the basis for the modified Delphi consensus exercise. No payment was provided for the time spent authoring this manuscript. DR Jeyarajah, NJ Espat, BC Visser, DA Iannitti, Doyle MBM, J Kim, and T Thambi-Pillai are or have been consultants to Sirtex Medical, Inc. NJ Espat has served as a speaker on behalf of Sirtex. DR Jeyarajah has served as a consultant to Ethicon.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Multi-step modified Delphi process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Literature review on the role of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with Y-90 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Treatment categories. The Core Expert Panel developed 3 categories of patients with liver-dominant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) stratified by surgical treatability. FLR, future liver remnant.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Treatment algorithm framework. The Core Expert Panel developed a distinct treatment algorithm for each group based on surgical treatability. Patients enter at any point and move vertically or laterally depending on response to treatment. mCRC, metastatic colorectal cancer.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Treatment algorithm for patients with surgically treatable liver-dominant (resectable) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). ESMO, European Society for Medical Oncology; NCCN, National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Treatment algorithm for patients with surgically untreatable liver-dominant (borderline resectable) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). ALPPS, associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy; ESMO, European Society for Medical Oncology; FLR, future liver remnant; HAI, hepatic artery infusion; PVE, portal vein embolization; RCTs, randomized controlled trials; SIRT, selective internal radiation therapy.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Treatment algorithm for patients with advanced surgically untreatable liver-dominant (unresectable) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). ALPPS, associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy; ESMO, European Society for Medical Oncology; FLR, future liver remnant; HAI, hepatic artery infusion; PVE, portal vein embolization; RCTs, randomized controlled trials; SIRT, selective internal radiation therapy.

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