Personalized computer-guided planning for radioembolization in liver cancer
An Innovative CFD-based Dosimetry and Pre-treatment Planning Platform to Support Personalized Transarterial Therapies for Liver Cancer
University Hospital, Ghent · NCT07315633
This project will try using patient-specific computer models of liver blood flow to predict where radioactive microspheres go during transarterial radioembolization for people with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Ghent (other) |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Ghent) |
| Trial ID | NCT07315633 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The study builds patient-specific 3D models of the hepatic arterial tree from clinical imaging (CT, MRI, PET, SPECT, or DSA) and uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate blood flow and microsphere transport. Simulations will account for procedural variables such as catheter tip location, orientation, and injection velocity to predict microsphere distribution and radiation dose deposition. Simulated dosimetry will be compared with available pre- and post-treatment imaging and clinical data to identify anatomical and procedural factors that influence outcomes. The long-term aim is to create a pre-treatment planning platform to make TARE delivery more predictable and personalized.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults with radiologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma who are eligible for or planned to receive TARE and who have suitable pre-treatment hepatic vascular imaging are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients without adequate pre- or post-treatment hepatic imaging, those not undergoing TARE, or those with non-HCC liver lesions are unlikely to benefit from this platform.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the platform could make TARE more predictable and effective by improving tumor dose delivery while reducing radiation to healthy liver.
How similar studies have performed: Prior computational and pilot studies have suggested CFD can help predict microsphere behavior, but fully validated patient-specific CFD pre-planning for TARE remains largely experimental.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects radiologically diagnosed with HCC, eligible for or undergoing treatment. * Subjects who are treated (or will be treated) using TARE with radioactive microspheres. * Subjects for whom pre-treatment medical imaging of the hepatic arterial vasculature was performed for TARE planning (e.g., CT, MRI, PET, SPECT, and DSA), which can be used to develop patient-specific 3D models of the hepatic arterial tree and treatment dose distribution. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects undergoing TARE procedures without adequate medical imaging of the hepatic vasculature. * Subjects in whom no pre- or post-treatment imaging data are available for analysis.
Where this trial is running
Ghent
- University Hospital Ghent — Ghent, Belgium (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Elisabeth Dhondt, Dr.
- Email: Elisabeth.dhondt@uzgent.be
- Phone: +32 9 3326684
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Liver Cancer, Adult, Liver Cancer, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Transarterial radioembolization, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Personalized medicine, Pre-treatment planning