Nuclear medicine device trial for treating liver cancer launched in US

The University of Missouri (Mizzou) in the US has reached a major milestone in cancer research by launching its first clinical trial of a nuclear medicine device.

Researchers have begun treating liver cancer patients with a new technology called Eye90 microspheres.

The treatment of their first patient began on February 9 at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center using Eye90.

It has been designed for the treatment of unresectable liver tumors, specifically targeting hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic colorectal cancer. 

Precision cancer beads

The University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) serves as the exclusive domestic manufacturer of Eye90 microspheres.

These specialized glass beads are embedded with the radioisotope yttrium-90 (Y-90) and are uniquely engineered to be radiopaque, allowing physicians to visualize the treatment precisely as it targets cancerous cells. 

For a long time, interventional radiologists have used yttrium-90 (Y-90) beads to treat liver tumors. But there was a catch.

Once those beads were inside the body, they were essentially invisible on standard scans. Doctors had to shoot and hope that the radiation landed exactly where it was needed.

Eye90 changes the game by being radiopaque, meaning they show up clearly on CT scans.

This transparency enables interventional radiologists to navigate to and target liver tumors with pinpoint accuracy, ensuring that radiation is concentrated exactly where it is needed. 

With this visual roadmap, the technology aims to maximize the destruction of cancerous cells while reducing the risk of radiation exposure to the surrounding healthy liver tissue.

“Studies like this provide early availability of therapies for our patients, and they continue our leadership in translational research. We are excited to be part of this study because we recognize the growing significance of targeted radiotherapy for metastatic tumors,” said Ryan Davis, associate professor of clinical radiology in Mizzou’s School of Medicine and on-site study coordinator. 

Tested on animal studies

Mizzou’s leadership in glass microsphere technology dates back to the 1980s, originating from a cross-campus collaboration that combined ceramic and nuclear chemistry expertise to create TheraSphere. 

This work established the MURR as the sole US producer of these life-saving beads, a status it maintains today. 

Building on this legacy, MURR now partners with ABK Biomedical to irradiate and process the next-generation Eye90 microspheres on-site. The university provides a reliable domestic supply chain that fuels everything from early-stage research to active human clinical trials.

To pave the way for human use, Mizzou researchers conducted rigorous safety and effectiveness studies led by Dr. Jeffrey Bryan at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The research progressed from small animal models to a successful clinical trial in dogs with naturally occurring liver tumors.

It bridged the gap between the lab and the clinic by using high-tech PET imaging to track treatment success in companion dogs and provided the essential evidence needed to launch human trials.

As part of a larger safety and efficacy evaluation, the Mizzou clinical trial involves a single administration of Eye90 microspheres followed by a year-long observation period. 

Researchers will closely monitor patient outcomes, focusing on how the tumors respond to radiation and on improvements in patients’ overall quality of life.

The goal is to gather the data necessary for broad regulatory approval, offering a new lifeline to patients with advanced liver cancer.