University launches clinical trial for groundbreaking nuclear medicine cancer treatment
A clinical trial testing an innovative new cancer therapy is officially underway at the University of Missouri School of Medicine.
In collaboration with ABK Biomedical and the NextGen Precision Health initiative, the trial for Eye90 microspheres officially began on Feb. 9 at MU Health Care’s Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. The University of Missouri Research Reactor will play a key role in the trial, as it is the only domestic producer of Y-90.
The microspheres, which are tiny beads embedded with radioisotope yttrium-90 (Y-90), are being tested for treating unresectable liver tumors. The Eye90 microspheres are unique in design, which enables real-time, precise visualization of tumors during treatment. This ensures tumors are accurately targeted while sparing the healthy surrounding tissues.
Patients involved in the trial will receive a single treatment using the microspheres. Researchers will follow their progress for a year to determine the treatment’s effectiveness, safety and post-procedure impact on quality of life.
“This clinical trial is significant for Mizzou because it shows the power of our campus research,” said University of Missouri President Mun Y. Choi, PhD. “This [project] allows our faculty and researchers to partner with industry to develop and test ground-breaking treatments and get them to patients faster, all from one campus," he added later.
“While we participate in many different clinical studies, this is the first radiopharmaceutical clinical trial for [the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center],” added Ryan Davis, MD, an associate professor of clinical radiology and on-site study coordinator. “Studies like this provide early availability of therapies for our patients, and they continue our leadership in translational research."
The university has a storied history involving Y-90 microspheres dating back to the 1980s. Leaders from the university also played a prominent role in the development and production of the first Y-90-based microsphere therapy, TheraSphere, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.