Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Liver Malignancies
Summary
Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), also known as transarterial radioembolization, delivers high‐dose beta radiation directly to liver tumours via Yttrium-90–loaded microspheres. Following hepatic artery catheterisation, embolic microspheres lodge preferentially in the tumour microvasculature, maximising lethal irradiation to malignant cells while preserving surrounding parenchyma. Initially applied in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, SIRT has since expanded to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic lesions from colorectal, neuroendocrine and breast cancers. Advances in pretreatment angiography, personalised dosimetry and multidisciplinary case selection have refined safety and efficacy. Key advantages include outpatient administration, lower systemic toxicity compared with conventional chemotherapy, and potential synergy with systemic agents and immunotherapies. Current research focuses on optimising radiation segmentectomy, lobar treatments and combining SIRT with targeted agents to enhance local control and overall survival.
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Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Liver Malignancies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in selective internal radiation therapy for liver malignancies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT): A locoregional cancer treatment delivering Y-90–loaded microspheres via the hepatic artery to irradiate liver tumours from within.
Yttrium-90 microspheres: Biocompatible resin or glass beads impregnated with the beta-emitter Y-90 for targeted internal radiotherapy.
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE): A procedure combining arterial delivery of chemotherapeutic agents with embolic particles to induce ischaemia and cytotoxicity in liver tumours.
mRECIST criteria: Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours adapted to quantify viable tumour response in hepatocellular carcinoma after locoregional therapies.
References
- A bibliometric analysis of 30 years of research on transarterial radioembolization (TARE) for hepatocellular carcinoma. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2025).
- Efficacy of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Post-Incomplete Response to Chemoembolization. Pharmaceuticals (2023).
- Clinical Application of Trans-Arterial Radioembolization in Hepatic Malignancies in Europe: First Results from the Prospective Multicentre Observational Study CIRSE Registry for SIR-Spheres Therapy (CIRT). CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology (2020).
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