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Podcast Episode

Ep. 673 Y90 for Liver-Directed Cancer Treatments: The PROACTIF Study with Dr. Tyler Sandow and Dr. Ryan Hickey

BackTable Vascular & Interventional··12 September 2026·1h 31m

About this episode

The key to personalizing Y90 may not just be treating the tumor, but understanding how much radiation a patient can tolerate, where to deliver it, and when to safely push the dose. In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, Drs. Tyler Sandow and Ryan Hickey join host Dr. Kavi Krishnasamy to explore strategies for using Y90 in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases. They combine real-world data from a study of nearly 1,000 patients with insights into methodology and the many variables that influence these procedures. --- Get the BackTable app https://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by an educational grant from Boston Scientific TheraSphere Y-90. --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 02:36 - Resection After Radioembolization 06:07 - Personal Practices Between HCC and Liver Metases 07:26 - Bridging Radiation Segmentectomy 11:22 - Understanding Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus 14:21 - Preferences in Dosimetry Software 17:57 - Liver Reserve Limits 25:11 - Microsphere Activity and Density 29:16 - Diving into PROACTIF 33:32 - RCTs and Trial Challenges 36:57 - Patient Diversity in PROACTIF 41:42 - Extrahepatic Disease 43:03 - Data Gaps and Takeaways 45:32 - Defining Personalized Dosimetry and Bridging Software 50:15 - Mixed Delivery Approaches and Dose Thresholds 01:01:36 - Response and Local Control 01:04:26 - Treating PVT Subgroups 01:09:03 - Comparison Between Dosing and Survival 01:15:03 - Differences in Patients Quality of Life After Transplantation 01:26:34 - Wrap-Up and Credits --- More about this episode The discussion covers radiation segmentectomy and selective delivery, the nuances of portal vein tumor thrombus levels, and how multidisciplinary collaboration differs between resection and transplant. The doctors dive into the PROACTIF study, focusing on personalized dosimetry, dose escalation, trial challenges, tumor response, and survival outcomes across disease stages. Drs. Sandow and Hickey also explain the limits of Y90, such as lung shunts, liver reserve, and treated liver volume, and highlight how decision-making and tailored techniques are essential for improving outcomes in liver cancer care. --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app