Dr. Borad on the SARAH and SIRveNIB Studies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Mitesh J. Borad, MD, associate professor of medicine, consultant, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic, discusses the results of the SARAH and SIRveNIB studies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The SARAH study was conducted in Europe and looked at Y-90 radioembolization versus sorafenib (Nexavar). The study was conducted to determine whether radioembolization was better than sorafenib. Findings from the trial showed that radioembolization was not superior. Upon further inspection, the data reveal that radioembolization was not significantly inferior to sorafenib. Borad states that similar results may be achieved with lower toxicities.

The SIRveNIB study was a similar study that was conducted in Asia that asked the same question of whether radioembolization was better than sorafenib. It also resulted in a negative finding, but Borad says that it may be able to be used in appropriately selected patient populations to avoid the toxicities of sorafenib.