Applications of Yttrium-90 (90Y) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, affecting millions of people worldwide. Due to the lack of systemic radiation therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma, researchers have been investigating the use of yttrium-90 (⁹⁰Y) radioembolization for local-regional tumor control since the 1960s. With the development of glass and resin ⁹⁰Y microspheres and the durable local control, good long-term efficacy, and equivalent tumor responsiveness and tolerability of ⁹⁰Y-selective internal irradiation compared with alternative therapies such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib, ⁹⁰Y radioembolization has gradually been applied in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma of all stages. In this article, we summarize the latest progress of ⁹⁰Y in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of its principle, advantages, indications, contraindications, efficacy and adverse effects.