Radiolabeled Glass Beads in Treating Patients With Liver Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Confirmed diagnosis of intrahepatic carcinoma
• •* Histopathology confirmation may be waived in patients with a radiographically identifiable liver mass AND known laboratory or clinical risk factors for cancer or elevated tumor markers such as AFP
• •Unresectable disease
• •No portal hypertension with portal venous shunt away from the liver
• •No significant extrahepatic disease representing an imminent life-threatening outcome
• •No evidence of potential delivery of \> 16.5 mCi (30 Gy absorbed dose) radiation to the lungs on either of the following:
• •* First yttrium Y 90 glass microspheres (TheraSphere®) administration
• •* Cumulative delivery of radiation to the lungs over multiple treatments
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •ECOG performance status 0-2
• •Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/μL
• •Platelet count \> 25,000/μL
• •Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL (unless using non-iodinated contrast or on dialysis)
• •Serum bilirubin ≤ 3.0 mg/dL (in some cases where there is an elevated bilirubin and the tumor may be isolated from a vascular standpoint, treatment may proceed)
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception