Improving Yttrium-90 Radiation Treatment for Liver Cancer Surgery
Yittrium-90 radiation lobectomy: Dose optimization and prediction of FLR hypertrophy to enable resection of HCC
This project explores how to best use a special radiation treatment called Yttrium-90 to help patients with liver cancer become eligible for surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174247 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many patients with liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC) cannot have surgery because there isn't enough healthy liver tissue left. This project focuses on a new radiation treatment, Yttrium-90 radiation lobectomy (90Y-RL), which aims to shrink the tumor while encouraging the healthy part of the liver to grow. This growth is essential for patients to safely undergo surgery. Researchers want to find the perfect radiation dose to achieve this liver growth without causing complications like liver failure. Advanced MRI imaging will help understand how the liver responds to this treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are being considered for Yttrium-90 radiation lobectomy.
Not a fit: Patients whose liver cancer is not suitable for this specific radiation treatment or who do not require future liver remnant hypertrophy for potential surgery may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make curative liver cancer surgery an option for more patients who currently cannot undergo the procedure.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data suggests this approach is useful, but the optimal dose strategy for inducing liver growth while minimizing risks is still unknown.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewandowski, Robert J — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Lewandowski, Robert J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.