PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess the efficacy and safety of radioembolization with yttrium-90 (
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma that progressed despite systemic chemotherapy and other treatments directed at primary tumors and metastases were treated with
RESULTS: Imaging results showed partial response in 8 patients (42%), stable disease in 7 (37%), and progressive disease in 4 (21%). Median overall survival times after radioembolization and diagnosis of the primary tumor were 8.1 (95% CI, 4.8-12.5) and 20.8 (95% CI, 14.2-29.0) months, respectively. Radioembolization did not produce major hepatic toxicity, and changes in liver enzyme levels were rarely grade ≥ 3 during the 12-week follow-up. The exceptions were 3 patients with grade 3 increased alkaline phosphatase (week 2) and bilirubin levels (week 4), increased bilirubin level (week 12), and decreased albumin level (week 12), respectively. Most reported complications were grade ≤ 2, with 2 patients showing short-term radioembolization-related grade 3 abdominal distention, abdominal pain, fatigue, or ascites.
CONCLUSIONS: Yttrium-90 radioembolization provided a meaningful survival benefit in patients with liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma that progressed despite previous therapies. Adverse events and liver toxicity were tolerable and only occasionally severe (grade ≥ 3)