The IMAGIO project has reached an important early milestone with the first patients enrolled in the Radioembolization With Intra-arterial Angiotensin II to Improve Tumor-absorbed Dose (RADIANT) study. This study focuses on improving radioembolization, a minimally invasive treatment used for patients with primary or metastatic liver cancer.
So far, two patients have been successfully enrolled in the study, with a third patient scheduled to join shortly. This marks a promising and safe start for the study.
What is the RADIANT study about?
Radioembolization is a treatment where very small radioactive beads, called microspheres, are delivered directly into the blood vessels that feed liver tumours. These microspheres emit radiation that helps destroy cancer cells while limiting damage to the surrounding tissue.
However, one of the challenges with radioembolization is ensuring that as many microspheres as possible reach the tumour, rather than healthy liver tissue.
The RADIANT study is testing a new approach to address this challenge. Before delivering the radioactive microspheres, physicians administer angiotensin II, a medication that temporarily narrows blood vessels. When given directly into the liver artery, angiotensin II reduces blood flow to healthy liver tissue for a short period of time. By reducing blood flow to healthy areas, more microspheres may be redirected towards the tumour itself. This could increase the radiation dose delivered to the cancer while reducing exposure to the healthy liver.
Why is this important?
If successful, this approach could make radioembolization more precise and more effective. Delivering more radiation to the tumour and less to healthy tissue may improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects for patients.
This fits closely with IMAGIO’s broader goal of using advanced imaging and innovative techniques to personalise treatment. The study relies on imaging to assess how microspheres are distributed in the liver, helping researchers understand whether this strategy truly improves tumour targeting. The first patient inclusions represent an important step forward for IMAGIO project as a whole. As the study progresses, further results from study will help clarify the potential of this approach and its role in future liver cancer care.