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Intratumoral injection of radioactive holmium ( 166 Ho ) microspheres for treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats
Author(s) -
van Nimwegen S. A.,
Bakker R. C.,
Kirpensteijn J.,
van Es R. J. J.,
Koole R.,
Lam M. G. E. H.,
Hesselink J. W.,
Nijsen J. F. W.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
veterinary and comparative oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1476-5829
pISSN - 1476-5810
DOI - 10.1111/vco.12319
Subject(s) - medicine , cats , holmium , ablation , radiation therapy , metastasis , complete response , nuclear medicine , basal cell , urology , chemotherapy , cancer , laser , physics , optics
Background & Aims A “microbrachytherapy” was developed as treatment option for inoperable tumours by direct intratumoral injection of radioactive holmium‐166 ( 166 Ho ) microspheres (MS). 166 Ho emits β‐radiation which potentially enables a high, ablative, radioactive‐absorbed dose on the tumour tissue while sparing surrounding tissues. Materials & Methods Safety and efficacy of 166 Ho microbrachytherapy were evaluated in a prospective cohort study of 13 cats with inoperable oral squamous cell carcinoma without evidence of distant metastasis. Results Local response rate was 55%, including complete response or partial response (downstaging) enabling subsequent marginal resection. Median survival time was 113 days overall, and 296 days for patients with local response. Side effects were minimal. Tumour volume was a significant predictor of response. Discussion Response rate may be further improved by optimizing the intratumoral spatial distribution of 166 Ho MS. Conclusion 166 Ho microbrachytherapy has potential as a minimally invasive, single procedure radio‐ablation treatment of unresectable tumours with minimal morbidity.