Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41896975›Full record

SynthesisTrials2026

Global landscape of yttrium-90 clinical trials: a systematic registry-based analysis.

Qianwen Ni, Kenan Wang, Wenyi Jin, Yakun Gao, Ping Gong, Zhenguang Wang, Zheqi Xu, Hui Liu, Susu Luo

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Trials, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Qianwen Ni *The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, 225 Changha Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-8203-2390
Kenan Wang *The Proof of Concept Center, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 200438, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-3998-9674
Wenyi Jin *Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3226-1606
Yakun GaoDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200120, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-1259-3593
Ping GongThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, 225 Changha Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-9395-6444
Zhenguang WangThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, 225 Changha Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-9794-3192
Zheqi XuThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, 225 Changha Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China. zheqixu@smmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6508-1038
Hui LiuThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, 225 Changha Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China. liuhuigg@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4599-5702
Susu LuoThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, 225 Changha Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China. tingluo@wustl.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9353-3671

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82204379National Natural Science Foundation of China 82270634Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai Municipality No. 25ZR1402578
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundYttrium-90 (Y-90) selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) has emerged as an important locoregional treatment for liver and other malignancies. However, despite its expanding clinical application, the global landscape of Y-90 clinical trials has not been systematically characterized. The objective of this study was to systematically characterize the global portfolio of Y-90 clinical trials, compare liver cancer with non-liver cancer indications, and evaluate patterns of result dissemination.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional registry-based analysis of all Y-90 clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov from 2000 to 2025. Trial characteristics, temporal and geographic patterns, methodological features, and reported outcomes were summarized. Comparative analyses were performed between liver cancer and non-liver cancer trials. Registry entries were linked to PubMed to assess publication output.

resultsA total of 373 eligible trials were identified. Most were interventional (86.9%), treatment-focused (93.1%), and single-center (70.1%), with small sample sizes (54.2% enrolled ≤ 30 participants). Nearly half were phase 1-2 (47.7%) or phase 2-3 (45.8%), with only 6.5% reaching phase 3-4. Randomization was reported in 43.5% of trials, but masking was rare (3.4%). Geographically, studies were concentrated in North America (68.4%), with limited representation from Asia (11.5%) despite its high disease burden. Liver cancer accounted for 44.5% of trials and was more likely than non-liver cancer studies to be randomized, advanced-phase, and Asia-based. Among 93 (24.9%) discontinued trials, accrual difficulties were the leading cause (38.7%). Only 68 trials (18.2%) had published results, with efficacy and safety endpoints more consistently reported in liver cancer studies.

conclusionsY-90 research has expanded globally, especially in liver cancer, but trials remain largely small, early phase, and geographically uneven, with limited dissemination. Strengthening methodological rigor through adequately powered multicenter trials, enhancing transparency in result dissemination, and encouraging broader research efforts in high-burden regions such as Asia may help further clarify the optimal role of Y-90 in oncology.

Indexed as

Clinical Trials as TopicLiver NeoplasmsNeoplasmsRadiopharmaceuticalsYttrium RadioisotopesCross-Sectional StudiesHumansRadioembolization, TherapeuticRegistriesTreatment OutcomeRadiopharmaceuticalsYttrium-90Yttrium RadioisotopesClinical trialsClinicalTrials.govLiver cancerRadioembolizationRegistry analysisYttrium-90

Identifiers

PMID41896975
PMCPMC13147879

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.