Outcome of Transarterial Radioembolization in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Glass Versus Resin Microsphere

To compare the treatment outcomes of glass and resin microspheres for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and evaluate the prognostic factors that influence the outcomes.

We retrospectively reviewed 251 consecutive patients who underwent radioembolization for the treatment of HCC at a single tertiary center. Imaging responses after radioembolization were evaluated using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) 1.1. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify the prognostic factors.

A total of 195 patients were included in this study (glass microsphere, n = 75; resin microsphere, n = 120). The complete and objective response rates were 16.0% and 50.7% in the glass microsphere group and 17.5% and 58.3% in the resin microsphere group, respectively. Median PFS was 241 days in the glass microsphere group and 268 days in the resin microsphere group (p = 0.871). Median OS was 29 months in the glass microsphere group and 40 months in the resin microsphere group (p = 0.669). The only significant prognostic factor was bilobar tumor distribution, which favored resin microspheres (p = 0.023). Procedure-related adverse events occurred more frequently in the resin microsphere group (glass, 2.7% vs. resin, 5.0%; p < 0.001).

Glass and resin microspheres for the treatment of HCC did not show a significant difference in survival, though major adverse events occurred more frequently with the use of resin microspheres.