Combination: Gemcitabine + TheraSphere

Combination: Gemcitabine + TheraSphere refers to a multimodal therapeutic strategy rather than a single molecular target. Gemcitabine is a pyrimidine nucleoside analog that inhibits DNA polymerase and ribonucleotide reductase, effectively halting cell cycle progression and sensitizing cells to radiation (PubChem CID 60750). TheraSphere is a medical device consisting of glass microspheres containing the radioisotope Yttrium-90, which is delivered via the hepatic artery to provide targeted internal radiation (radioembolization) to liver tumors (FDA PMA P060006). This combination is typically employed in the management of advanced primary liver cancers like hepatocellular carcinoma or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, as well as liver-dominant metastatic disease (PubMed PMID: 24120981). The rationale for this approach is that Gemcitabine acts as a radiosensitizer, potentially increasing the efficacy of the Yttrium-90 beta radiation. Clinical studies have explored this regimen to improve local tumor control and overall survival in patients with unresectable disease. However, the combination necessitates careful monitoring for cumulative toxicities, particularly hepatotoxicity and hematologic side effects like myelosuppression (PubMed PMID: 21422401). It represents a convergence of systemic chemotherapy and interventional oncology.

Other names

Gemcitabine and Yttrium-90 glass microspheresGemcitabine plus SIRTGemcitabine and Y-90 radioembolizationGemcitabine and TheraSphere Y-90

Gemcitabine acts as a nucleoside analog that inhibits DNA synthesis and serves as a radiosensitizer, while TheraSphere delivers localized beta radiation via Yttrium-90 glass microspheres to induce lethal DNA double-strand breaks in tumor cells.