Abstracts Presented at SIO 2026 Highlight Advances in Y-90 Radioembolization

The yttrium-90 (Y-90) abstracts presented at Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO) 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting reflect the expanding role of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) and radiation segmentectomy (RS) across a spectrum of hepatic and oncologic indications. Collectively, they evaluate technical optimization, dosimetry accuracy, patient selection, combination therapy strategies, safety outcomes, and novel delivery methods.

Several studies focus on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated high pooled objective response (93%), complete response (74%), and disease control (97%) rates, supporting RS as an effective ablative therapy for patients who are not surgical or thermal ablation candidates.¹ A retrospective, single-center study of adults with HCC revealed substantial discrepancies between calculated delivered dose and tumor-absorbed dose measured on post-treatment PET/CT, with absorbed dose more closely associated with progression outcomes.² Similarly, a preliminary report in patients with colorectal liver metastases demonstrated that higher tumor and marginal absorbed dose thresholds (≥200 Gy) were associated with prolonged local tumor progression-free survival.³

Optimization of treatment delivery was examined in a small retrospective study of 8 patients, with results suggesting that the timing of microsphere delivery (week 1 vs week 2) did not significantly affect tumor or normal tissue dose, clinical response, or safety outcomes, although second-week delivery resulted in higher intratumoral sphere concentration despite lower sphere activity.⁴ Patient selection and risk stratification were addressed in 2 retrospective studies. One included patients with HCC who underwent Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (Tc-99m MAA) mapping to determine their suitability for Y90 and found that, of the included variables, only alanine aminotransferase independently predicted success.⁵ Another evaluated the predictive capabilities of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) 3.0 score; in this analysis of more than 1000 transarterial radioembolization procedures, higher pre-procedure MELD 3.0 scores were significantly associated with increased risk of post-procedure mortality and impaired synthetic liver function.⁶

Beyond HCC, Y-90 applications were evaluated in other hepatic malignancies. A study conducted across 3 centers over 8 years (2016-2024) reported encouraging response and survival outcomes with acceptable safety in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.⁷ Additionally, a retrospective review over 14 years (2010-2024) supported safety and high response rates for the treatment of hepatic adenomas.⁸ Combination strategies were explored in a retrospective, single-center study of patients with liver metastases from uveal melanoma,⁹ as well as in the cases of 2 older males with advanced, unresectable HCC¹⁰; results suggested the potential benefit of integrating Y-90 with systemic⁹ or immunotherapy¹⁰ approaches.

Finally, preclinical innovation was highlighted in an evaluation of YntraDose (BetaGlue Therapeutics), a Y-90 delivery platform that facilitates direct injection into the target tissue. The authors concluded that this option is feasible and effective in local tumor ablation in a large-animal model.¹¹

Overall, these abstracts underscore Y-90 radioembolization as a versatile and increasingly refined locoregional therapy, with growing emphasis on personalized dosimetry, predictive modeling, and integration with systemic treatment strategies.

1. Nadeem A, Iqbal T, Javed D, et al. Efficacy of yttrium-90 radiation segmentectomy for ablative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999
2. Odeh M, Dinh D, Weinstein J, Ahmed M, Sarwar A. Comparison of delivered and absorbed doses in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with yttrium-90 radiation segmentectomy using resin microspheres. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999
3. Sofocleous C, Kunin H, Alexander E, et al. Prediction of colorectal liver metastases response to 90Y radiation segmentectomy through dosimetry analysis in Tc99-MAA SPECT/CT: a preliminary report. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999
4. Molvar C, Thapa N, Mujeeb Z, et al. 1st vs. 2nd week—the impact of delivery timing of yttrium-90 microspheres for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999.
5. Charles G, Quek H, Anbalagan K, Pua U, How G. Predictive factors associated with suitability for yttrium-90 radioembolization (Y90). J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999
6. Haste P, Petrucciani L, Pebror T. Pre-procedure MELD 3.0 is a predictor of short-term mortality and impaired liver function following yttrium-90 radioembolization. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999
7. Khankan A, Alshammari K, Safar B, et al. Yttrium-90 radioembolization in the management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: effectiveness and safety outcomes from multicenter study. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;37(2 suppl):SIO 2026 abstract.
8. Kim J, Shilo D, Lookstein R, et al. Yttrium-90 radioembolization for hepatic adenomas: a single-institution retrospective experience. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999
9. Garg T, Chen X, Sullivan R, et al. Comparison of outcomes in patients undergoing radioembolization alone vs radioembolization with systemic therapy for hepatic metastases from uveal melanoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999
10. Smith E, Grossi M, Camacho J, Khan P. Yttrium-90 radioembolization to immune activation: synergistic battle against advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999
11. Tzafriri R, Janssen P, Narayanan G, et al. One month preclinical safety and efficacy evaluation of a yttrium-90 resin microsphere glue formulation in the Oncopig® pancreatic cancer model. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;JVIR_107999. Abstracts from SIO. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2026.107999