Efficacy and Safety of Boosted Radioembolization for Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Resection

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

4:21 PM - 4:30 PM ET

Location: 715

Presenting Author(s)

Gun Ha Kim, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
Asan Medical Center, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Author/Co-author(s)

TB

Tae Wook Baek, MD

Fellow
Asan Medical Center, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
BI

Byung Soo Im, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
Asan Medical Center, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
JK

Ji Hoon Kim, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
Asan Medical Center, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
HC

Hee Ho Chu, MD

Clinical Associate Professor
Asan Medical Center, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
JK

Jin Hyoung Kim, MD

Professor
Asan Medical Center, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
Dong Il Gwon, MD, PhD

Professor
Asan Medical Center, Republic of Korea

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of boosted transarterial radioembolization (TARE) for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients (mean age, 65.6 ± 8.8 years; 16 men) with recurrent HCC after curative resection underwent TARE between January 2022 and March 2025. Tumor response, local tumor progression-free survival (LTPFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The mean interval from resection to TARE was 107.8 months; mean future liver remnant (FLR) was 60.6%, with 18.2% having an FLR < 30%. Boosted TARE was performed in 95.5%. Complete response (CR) was achieved in 77.3%, with an objective response rate of 90.9% and a disease control rate of 100.0%. Local tumor progression occurred in 18.2%, and LTPFS rates at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were 100.0%, 85.7%, 59.4%, and 59.4%, respectively. Median PFS was 8.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.7–not reached), and PFS rates at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were 86.4%, 70.4%, 43.2%, and 43.2%. OS rates at the same intervals were 100.0%, 90.9%, 85.2%, and 85.2%. Grade 3 adverse events included elevated AST/ALT (4.5%) and bilirubin (13.6%). No patients experienced radiation pneumonitis or radioembolization-induced liver disease. One patient (4.5%) died from sepsis due to tumor rupture (grade 5). Non-CR was independently associated with worse LTPFS (adjusted HR, 6.74, 95% CI, 1.49–30.52, p = 0.013).

Conclusion: Boosted TARE is an effective and safe method for treating recurrent HCC after curative resection, with a good local tumor control.