Prognostic factors for overall survival in advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated with yttrium-90 radioembolization

Purpose: To evaluate factors associated with survival following transarterial⁹⁰Y (yttrium) radioembolization (TARE) in patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Methods: This retrospective multicenter study analyzed the outcome of three tertiary care cancer centers in patients with advanced ICC following resin microsphere TARE. Patients were included either after failed previous anticancer therapy, including relapse after surgical resection, or for having a minimum of 25% of total liver volume affected by ICC. Patients were stratified and response was assessed by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria at 3 months. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to analyze survival followed by cox regression to determine independent prognostic factors for survival. Results: 46 patients were included (19 male, 27 female), median age 62.5 years (range 29–88 years). A total of 65% of patients had undergone previous therapy, while 63% had a tumor volume > 25% of the entire liver volume. Median survival was 9.5 months (95% CI: 6.1–12.9 months). Due to loss in follow-up, n = 37 patients were included in the survival analysis. Cox regression revealed the extent of liver disease to one or both liver lobes being associated with survival, irrespective of tumor volume (p = 0.041). Patients with previous surgical resection of ICC had significantly decreased survival (3.9 vs. 12.8 months, p = 0.002). No case of radiation-induced liver disease was observed. Discussion: Survival after⁹⁰Y TARE in patients with advanced ICC primarily depends on disease extent. Only limited prognostic factors are associated with a general poor overall survival.