Join us for the embolotherapy congress of the year !
ET 2025 will cover the entire range of embolotherapy treatments from well-established therapies to the latest technologies and cutting-edge developments, research, and new indications.
ET 2025 will feature unique session formats and a vibrant programme – browse the full schedule now and put together your personal itinerary !
Highlights this year will include a special focus on MSK conditions, including a dedicated session featuring lectures from the world’s top experts as well as two deep dive sessions.
Other deep dive sessions, which enable participants to interact closely with the experts, will delve into:
• Gastro-intestinal bleeding
• Vascular malformations
• Radioembolization
• Men’s health
• Visceral aneurysms
Register now to join us in Porto to connect with old colleagues and new friends for a meeting focusing on one of interventional radiology’s fastest growing areas.
We look forward to welcoming you to ET 2025 !
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were able to achieve angiogenesis inhibition, creating their desired exclusion zone.
“We’re back in business, baby,” said Machan. “So, we do some bench, small and large animal experiments, but we needed to deal with one big problem and that was that, at the time, Taxol had up to a 30% anaphylactic rate.” Machan notes that this reaction was considered attributable to a solubilisation agent, Cremophor—a castor oil derivative—but there were lingering concerns it could be related to paclitaxel itself, which threatened “to sink us”, he stated.
During this time, however, Machan described a patient who had oesophageal cancer who had had two failed attempts at dilation.
“His grandkids wouldn’t come to visit him because he couldn’t swallow so was always spitting up. He just said he wanted to be able to eat ice cream and drink scotch. So—and I would go to jail for this now—I went across to our lab and we packed as much paclitaxel and ethylene vinyl acetate as humanly possible onto this removable oesophageal stent,” Machan told the SIR 2025 audience. “I sweated bullets overnight. I went in the next morning and there he was with three little dixie cups on his mail stand, and he threw me this presumed scotch-induced grin, so we knew were in business,” recounted Machan.
In 1992, Machan and his other co-patentors signed a co-exclusive license with Boston Scientific and Cook Medical for their paclitaxel-coated stent, despite five years of talks with various companies. “We had received a cash offer, so I went up to Boston and Cook and said, ‘I don’t know if you guys are just being nice to me but if an alternative doesn’t arise, this deal is going to go through on Monday’. By that Saturday at 9am, we confirmed that FOMO [fear of missing out] is still the most important factor in so many ways,” Machan said.
Now, in everyone’s pocket there is a device that can interface with a digital stethoscope, recognising heart and lung sounds, and can tell you what these represent”
skills,” Machan continued. “But, boy, are luck and timing everything. Then finally, work on a problem that someone will pay for. It’s great to do research, but if you want to get it into a patient, unfortunately you have to have a commercial alliance.” It is this commercial element that has become a larger part of innovation today, stated Machan, but the “cascade of steps” to take “an idea on a napkin to getting it patented and regulated hasn’t changed, and you can’t skip any of them,” he added.
What has changed, however, is where innovators look for opportunities, Machan said. “First of all, you follow the money,” he stated. On one side, there are the “inconvenient truths” of needing to control unsustainable healthcare costs; at the same time there are significant changes set to transform future healthcare, including casting the patient as a consumer and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the treatment algorithm.
“What did I learn from all of this?” His trajectory through innovation taught Machan that observing opportunities for innovation is key, he stated. “‘Honour every opportunity to learn something new’—it’s a fantastic quote. My first instinct was to not go to that premedical presentation because it was on something I didn’t understand, but I went and it changed my life. Work with people who have other
Regarding the former, Machan spoke on the democratisation of cardiovascular care at home. Using the example of smartwatches that can monitor and record your heart rate and sympathetic tone, the speaker stated that “this new era of health has resulted in the combination of digitalisation and consumerisation”. The result of this has meant that companies such as Google and Meta, “who haven’t
gone through the slings and arrows that other medical companies have, and with the irrationality of the business of healthcare,” Machan added, create a new landscape for patients and healthcare providers to navigate.
“But I said follow the money,” Machan continued. “Think about efficiencies, quantum leaps, efficacy and safety, while empowering lesser trained members of the healthcare team.” To exemplify this stance and the democratisation of teaching, the speaker described the history of the stethoscope, and how the tool required specialised expertise which created barriers as to who could deliver healthcare.
“Now, in everyone’s pocket there is a device that can interface with a digital stethoscope, recognising heart and lung sounds, and can tell you what these represent,” described Machan. “This means that every general or nurse practitioner now has the expertise of an Ivy League cardiologist immediately available to them. This reduces, for instance, unnecessary referrals from rural areas or for functional murmurs in children.”
AI in the real world
Machan subsequently touched on AI and the introduction of AI innovation at a societal level. Machan noted how Truveta, among a growing number of comparable companies, is able to extract and interrogate healthcare data from millions of patients daily, drawing on these data to further clinical research. Referencing a publication by Monteleone et al, comparing ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis versus mechanical thrombectomy in over 83 million patients, Machan drew attention to the wealth of procedures and outcomes that can be studied.
With the ability to provide real-world data, these emerging AI programmes are bringing to the fore the realisation that “what happens in the real world doesn’t necessarily happen in controlled company-sponsored trials”, Machan stated.
Finishing his talk, Machan ruminated on what Dotter would say to early career interventional radiologists seeking to innovate today. In his view, Dotter would urge them to be curious, collaborate and record what they learn, and to protect the spirit of IR, leaving the speciality better than they found it.
Lindsay Machan
Machan presenting at SIR
Photo
Musculoskeletal embolization: Promise, progress, and the path forward
Gerard Goh
Yuji Okuno
Musculoskeletal (MSK) embolization—including techniques such as transarterial microembolization (TAME) and genicular artery embolization (GAE)—has emerged as a novel, minimally invasive treatment for chronic joint and tendon pain. Initially applied to conditions such as knee osteoarthritis (OA), frozen shoulder, and tendinopathies, these procedures target hypervascular inflammation, a key contributor to chronic MSK symptoms. While early data are promising, the field is still maturing. Here, Gerard Goh (Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia) and Yuji Okuno (Okuno Clinic, Tokyo, Japan) collaborate to raise several critical questions that, at present, remain unanswered.
Top 5 unanswered questions
1. Generating high-quality evidence
To date, much of the literature on MSK embolization consists of case series and single-arm studies. While these have reported significant reductions in pain and improvements in function, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) remain limited. Notably, the few RCTs published have produced mixed results—one demonstrated clinical benefit, while another showed no significant difference from placebo.1,2 These findings raise concerns about placebo effects and highlight the need for more rigorous evidence. Larger trials in the UK, France, and US are ongoing and may help define the clinical value of these procedures.3,4,5
2. Optimising indications and patient selection
Knee OA is a heterogeneous disorder with varying underlying causes and pathologies. While GAE appears beneficial for many, it is still unclear which patients are most likely to
respond. Pre-procedural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings have shown potential in predicting outcomes, but reliable imaging-based criteria for patient selection remain underdeveloped.6,7 Similar uncertainties exist for other conditions such as frozen shoulder and sports-related injuries, where the roles of contrast-enhanced MRI and other imaging modalities are still being clarified.
Additionally, as pain is a subjective experience, psychological factors such as catastrophising, anxiety, and depression may influence outcomes. These aspects should be considered in future studies aimed at refining patient selection frameworks.
3. Improving outcome assessment methods
Pain assessment traditionally relies on tools such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), which capture pain at a single time point. However, these tools are susceptible to environmental and emotional factors, leading to variability. Broader functional scoring systems—such as Western Ontario and
McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) or Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)—offer more comprehensive evaluations but depend on retrospective recall and may introduce bias.
Emerging approaches like Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) allow for multiple real-time inputs, providing more granular insights into daily symptom variability. Likewise, wearable devices can objectively track activity levels and function. Integrating these multidimensional tools into outcome assessment may improve the reliability and relevance of future research.
4. Refining embolic materials and techniques
One consistent finding in the literature is that embolic materials smaller than 100 micrometers are associated with higher complication rates, irrespective of whether they are temporary or permanent. Beyond this, however, consensus on the optimal type of embolic agent is lacking.
Temporary embolic agents are widely regarded for their safety, while permanent agents may offer longer-lasting benefits, particularly in progressive conditions like knee OA. Some propose combining both— utilising the short-term safety of temporary materials with the durable effects of permanent embolics. This hybrid approach could offer a balanced therapeutic profile.
Outside the knee, evidence is even scarcer. Recent findings suggest that in the elbow joint, using smaller embolic volumes can minimise complications and enhance clinical results. As the field evolves, tailored strategies for each joint and disease type must be developed, accounting for anatomical and physiological nuances.
5. Clarifying long-term outcomes
While many patients report sustained symptom relief for up to two years post-embolization, data on long-term durability remain sparse. It is unclear whether embolization alters the course of disease or simply provides temporary relief. Key questions remain: Can embolization delay or prevent
Comparison finds quick-soluble gelatin sponge particles cause increased at-site pain following TAE for overuse joint disorders
A COMPARISON OF THREE biodegradable embolic materials—imipenem/ cilastatin (IPM/CS), quick-soluble gelatin sponge particles (QS-GSPs), and resorbable microspheres— has demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of all three in alleviating symptoms in transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for degenerative, inflammatory and overuse joint disorders. Data show that increased
pain at the site of embolization was significantly higher among patients treated with QS-GSPs.
Led by Tijmen van Zadelhoff (Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) et al, the retrospective study included 431 patients; 527 overuse joints with refractory overuse injuries, knee osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, symptomatic rotator cuff tear, synovitis of the
joint replacement surgery? What is the efficacy of repeat embolizations? And how does embolization affect joint structure over time?
To address these, extended followup of existing cohorts and the establishment of prospective registries will be critical. Understanding longterm safety and efficacy will determine the role of MSK embolization in the treatment continuum.
MSK embolization is an innovative and promising addition to the therapeutic arsenal for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Offering a minimally invasive, targeted alternative for patients unresponsive to conservative care, it has the potential to bridge the gap between medication and surgery. However, its future depends on addressing key uncertainties through robust clinical trials, refined patient selection, optimized embolic techniques, and comprehensive longterm data. The next few years will be pivotal in determining whether MSK embolization becomes a standard of care or remains a specialised intervention for select cases.
Gerard Goh is an interventional radiologist at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia and Yuji Okuno is an interventional radiologist at the Okuno Clinic in Tokyo, Japan.
References
1. Bagla S, Piechowiak R, Sajan A, et al. Multicenter Randomized Sham Controlled Study of Genicular Artery Embolization for Knee Pain Secondary to Osteoarthritis. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2022 Jan;33(1):210.e2
2.van Zadelhoff TA, Bos PK, Moelker A, et al. Genicular artery embolisation versus sham embolisation for symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2024 Oct 1;14(10):e087047.
3. Little MW, Harrison R, MacGill S, et al. Genicular Artery Embolisation in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee (GENESIS 2): Protocol for a Double-Blind Randomised Sham-Controlled Trial. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2023 Sep;46(9):1276-1282.
6.van Zadelhoff TA, Okuno Y, Bos PK, et al Association between Baseline Osteoarthritic Features on MR Imaging and Clinical Outcome after Genicular Artery Embolization for Knee Osteoarthritis. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2021 Apr;32(4):497-503.
7. Choi JW, Ro DH, Chae HD, et al The Value of Preprocedural MR Imaging in Genicular Artery Embolization for Patients with Osteoarthritic Knee Pain. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2020 Dec;31(12): 2043-2050.
foot joints, and persistent pain after knee joint arthroplasty who underwent TAE between March 2020 and May 2023. IPM/CS, QS-GSPs, and resorbable microspheres were used in 140 patients (176 TAEs), 136 patients (163 TAEs), and 155 patients (182 TAEs), respectively.
Zadelhoff et al reported no serious adverse events; however, increased pain at the site of embolization lasting more than seven days occurred in 7.1, 22 and 5.8% of patients with IPM/CS, QS-GSPs, and RMs, respectively, and most commonly in the elbow joint. They note that numeric rating scale (NRS) improved for all groups at one-, three- and sixmonth follow-up.
Twelve-month results of the Wrapsody Arteriovenous Access Efficacy (WAVE) pivotal trial show a statistically significant improvement in target lesion primary patency (TLPP) with the Wrapsody (Merit Medical) cell-impermeable endoprosthesis (CIE) when compared to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).
THE PROSPECTIVE, MULTICENTRE, international WAVE trial includes 43 centres in the USA, South America and the UK, concerning arteriovenous fistula (AVF) patients with venous outflow stenosis or occlusion in their peripheral venous outflow circuit.
These results were presented by Dheeraj Rajan (University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada) at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) annual scientific meeting (29 March–2 April, Nashville, USA). Rajan detailed that treatment efficacy was determined by the proportion of patients with TLPP, defined as freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularisation or target lesion thrombosis. A key secondary endpoint at 12 months was access circuit primary patency (ACPP).
A total of 245 patients were randomised, 122 to treatment with Wrapsody and 123 to PTA. Rajan reported that no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients free from a safety event was observed through to 30 days post procedure (CIE: 96.6%; PTA: 95%; non-inferiority p<0.001). At six months, the TLPP was higher for patients treated with Wrapsody versus PTA (89.8% vs. 63%; p<0.0001) and remained higher than the PTA cohort at 12 months (70.1% vs. 41.6%, p<0.0001). The six-month
ACPP was higher for patients treated with Wrapsody versus PTA (72.8% vs. 58%, p=0.014) and remained higher at 12 months (58.1% vs. 34.4%, p=0.0003).
“Looking at our 12-month primary patency, you can see the survival benefit is maintained and actually separates over time,” said Rajan, reflecting on their results. “As the curves continue to separate, I argue that there’s a continued therapeutic benefit [with Wrapsody] over time, and for access circuit primary patency as well.”
Rajan added: “Within dialysis access, those of us that do it, we know that the outcomes of vascular access directly contribute to the mortality and morbidity of patients. There’s a really high cost to maintaining these accesses, and to date, all comparative studies still consider PTA as the gold standard for treatment.
“Although PTA has done reasonably well [in trial settings], there has always been
JETi registry reports effective thrombus reduction in lower extremity DVT
Recently presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) annual scientific meeting (29 March–2 April, Nashville, USA), data from the Jet Enhanced Thrombectomy intervention hydrodynamic thrombectomy system (JETi; Abbott) registry has demonstrated the device’s effectiveness having surpassed prespecified safety and efficacy thresholds for the removal of thrombus in lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
THE JETI SYSTEM IS A hydromechanical aspiration system intended to remove intravascular thrombus. To evaluate its efficacy, the prospective, single-arm, all-comer, real-world venous registry was devised, enrolling 116 patients with iliofemoral DVT from 14 global sites. Mahmood Razavi (St. Joseph Heart & Vascular Center, Orange, USA) presented the results.
Primary effectiveness was assessed by the percent of treated vessel(s) with ≥75% venous thrombus reduction from baseline to final venogram following all primary and adjunctive therapies per core lab-assessed modified Marder score. Safety was assessed by the composite rate of JETi-related major adverse events that included death, symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE), major bleeding, and re-
thrombosis of JETi-treated vessel(s) up to 30 days post procedure per clinical events committee adjudication.
Patients in this cohort had a mean age of 56.6 years, and half were female. Prior rates of DVT (21.6%) and PE (19.8%) were high in this patient population, with significant rates of other conditions such as hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and hypertension. Nearly three quarters of the population (74.1%) had onset of signs and symptoms within 14 days, 16.4% between 14 and 42 days, and the remaining (9.5%) beyond 42 days.
The total index procedure time was reported as 124.5 minutes, while the JETi device use time was
room for improvement, and we’ve chased that [via the WAVE trial],” Rajan told the SIR audience. “We’ve seen improved TLPP with covered stents in the past, but the access circuit primary patency doesn’t change much. The argument has always been why would you use these devices if you aren’t changing the overall lifespan of the access,” said the speaker.
The WAVE trial is still currently ongoing, said Rajan, stating that 24-month results are forthcoming. In light of the sustained improvement in TLPP and ACPP with Wrapsody, and the “limited options available to restore and maintain access circuit primary patency”, the authors state that these findings are of “high value” to clinicians who treat stenosis/occlusion in the venous outflow circuit of haemodialysis patients, and for the patients themselves.
23.5 minutes; 72.4% of patients were treated in a single session with the device. Concerning adjunctive treatments or additional interventions, 83.6% required a balloon and 55.2% a stent. Two patients required the use of the JETi HyperPulse (Abbott) thrombolytic and 13.8% of patients required a handinfused thrombolytic. Catheter-directed thrombolysis was performed in 25.9% of patients—4.3% prior to JETi use and 21.6% following. Regarding primary effectiveness, at least 75% thrombus reduction was achieved in 84.5% of treated limbs via modified Marder score, which
met the prespecified performance goal of 64%. Major adverse events were reported in 1.7% of patients, including symptomatic PE and rethrombosis of JETi-treated vessels.
Patients reported improved Villalta post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), leg pain, and quality of life scores at 30 days post procedure. Importantly, despite disclosing moderate to extremely severe pain at baseline, 81% of patients reported that they had no pain to mild pain at follow-up. Meeting its prespecified efficacy and safety criteria, the investigators highlight the marked improvement in clinical and patient-reported outcomes, and state that the registry’s one-year results, which are set to be released in due course, will bear out these data in greater granularity.
Wrapsody
Razavi presenting at SIR
There are very few training posts in paediatric IR, especially outside of North America, which of course means a lack of paediatric interventional radiologists.
Paediatric interventional oncology (IO) is significantly hampered by the absence of IR options in almost all treatment and study protocols. And we are held back by the lack of paediatric-specific equipment. Most of the time we can find workarounds with standard adult IR devices and kit, but now even this is heavily impacted by the recent changes in European medical device regulation. There are now almost insurmountable barriers to device development for paediatric use and we are seeing longstanding devices removed from the market or being labelled as ‘contraindicated for paediatric use’.
My colleagues and I recently published a research needs assessment for paediatric IR which highlighted a number of barriers to meaningful research in our field, despite widespread interest within the paediatric IR community for collaborative research.1 The paper emphasises some important areas for us and our clinical teams to
focus on going forward.
In my opinion, the area of greatest need, and an area in which IR can undoubtedly impact children’s healthcare, is in paediatric oncology.
As in adult IO, we need to keep pushing our oncology colleagues for a seat at the table, so that we can demonstrate to them what we can do and together explore how IR can contribute to paediatric cancer care. I am thrilled that the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP Europe) will be welcomed as part of the CIRSE 2025 congress (13–17 September, Barcelona, Spain). SIOP Europe is the only pan-European organisation representing all professionals working in the field of childhood cancer and our most valuable partner in furthering paediatric IO in Europe.
What is your advice to young interventional radiologists entering the field of paediatrics today?
Paediatric IR is a hugely rewarding career path, and you will be part of an immensely warm and welcoming international community. Seek out paediatric IR colleagues at all of the major IR congresses to develop
"It will take all of us to change many of the current inequalities in paediatric IR care”
links with us and share ideas, and join us at the annual Society for Pediatric Interventional Radiology (SPIR) meeting (14–16 October, Sydney, Australia). Reflect on how children are treated in your local hospitals—are they are being offered the same IR options that adult patients are? Almost certainly not. Can you influence that? It will take all of us to change many of the current inequalities in paediatric IR care.
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
I have a busy and fun life outside of work. My husband Andy and I play a lot of tennis, and we enjoy travelling together. I am passionate about art, exploring and appreciating fine art in galleries around the world, but also drawing and painting myself. I have recently gone back to art school in the evenings and have a very small exhibition coming up at the end of the year.
References 1. Temple et al Fostering research in pediatric interventional radiology: needs assessment and suggestions for support. Pediatr Radiol 2023 Oct;53(11):2245-2252. doi: 10.1007/s00247023-05722-6).
Hydrogel embolic system demonstrates positive safety and efficacy in “first” peripheral application trial
Preliminary results from the “first” prospective, randomised, multicentre Instylla Hydrogel Embolic System (HES; Instylla) trial show the liquid embolic met primary safety and effectiveness endpoints, with a 99% freedom from major adverse event rate at 30 days follow-up, compared to a literature-derived performance goal of 75%.
THE RESULTS OF THE TRIAL WERE presented by Nadine Abi-Jaoudeh (University of California, Irvine, USA) at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) annual scientific meeting (29 March–2 April, Nashville, USA) during a late-breaking abstract session.
Abi-Jaoudeh outlined that the Instylla HES is intended for the occlusion of hypervascular tumours, which was compared with standard of care-transarterial embolization/conventional chemoembolization (TAE/TACE).
A total of 150 patients presenting with hypervascular tumours were enrolled from 22 centres, 84 enrollees were men and 66 women, with an average age of 65.4 years. Inclusion criteria included subjects with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of between 0 and 2 (except for metastastic disease which ranged from 0–1) with at least one target vessel <5mm.
Patients underwent clinical and imaging follow-up at 30 and 90 days, with an additional clinical follow-up at 180 days post procedure. The majority of patients (44.7%) included in the trial presented with primary liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver metastases (18%), benign liver tumours (6.7%), bone tumours
(6%), and renal tumours (24.7%).
Abi-Jaoudeh defined the trial’s primary safety endpoint as freedom from major adverse events which were “definitely or probably attributable” to the device and/or procedure and Grade ≥3 events per the 2017 SIR guidelines. Primary effectiveness was defined as the delivery of the embolic agent to the index tumour feeding vessel with stasis of flow assessed by an independent imaging core laboratory.
event rate, with a single event attributed to the procedure and not the embolic. Their analysis for technical success was based on 132 vessels in 97 subjects who received HES and 66 vessels in 48 subjects who received standard of care. The speaker detailed that the primary effectiveness endpoint met and surpassed their predefined non-inferiority margin of 10% and technical success was 88.6% and 77.3% for HES and standard of care, respectively.
The Instylla HES data showed a lower numerical incidence of additional embolization procedures beyond the 90-day follow-up, reported at 8.8% for HES and 14.6% for standard of care. Further, no clinically significant non-target embolization was associated with HES, Abi-Jaoudeh outlined.
Abi-Jaoudeh reported that the team’s preliminary results showed a 99% freedom from major adverse
That’s what’s exciting about this liquid embolic, as it’s made to mould to the vessels and achieve complete embolization”
CIREL study finds comparable overall survival between indication for irinotecan-TACE in colorectal liver metastases
Results from CIREL—the largest, pan-European, prospective study of irinotecan-eluting transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs), show a comparably long median overall survival (OS) when used as salvage therapy and “promising” hepatic progression-free survival (HPFS) when used with systemic therapy or thermal ablation as a post-inductive or consolidation therapy.
THE STUDY, PUBLISHED in European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Open, was led by Dirk Arnold (Asklepios Tumor Centre Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany) et al, who sought to evaluate when and for whom irinotecan-TACE should be preferred over other locoregional treatments, or may be added to other treatments.
CIREL was conducted across 11 European countries including 20 centres, and enrolled 152 patients in total between February 2018 and August 2020. All patients underwent at least one treatment session with LifePearl (MicroVention) microspheres and attended follow-up sessions between 4–8 weeks and 12–16 weeks following the last treatment session. The primary endpoint of the study was
to identify the number of indications that the device is used for, assessed by stage and previous treatment(s). To this end, irinotecan-TACE was categorised into two treatment intentions: salvage therapy, which was defined by the authors as intensification of treatment with concomitant systemic therapy, and salvage treatment in progressive patients pre-treated with systemic therapy, with or without concomitant systemic therapy, and, as postinductive/consolidation therapy, defined as LifePearl irinotecan as a first-line, consolidation or closing treatment with or without systemic therapy, or as combination treatment with ablation with curative intent. The study cohort had an average age of 66 years, 61.2% of patients were male and extrahepatic metastases were present
Speaking to Interventional News about the significance of these findings, AbiJaoudeh reiterated that this is the first trial to evaluate liquid embolics in tumours of any kind. “Liquid embolics have largely been used in the neurointerventional space for malformations or aneurysms and more recently in active haemorrhage, but not in hypervascular tumours, so this is very exciting,” she stated. “Research has shown that ischaemia is really what we’re looking for in these tumours, and [when using embolics] you want deep uniform penetration. That’s what’s exciting about this liquid embolic, as it’s made to mould to the vessels and achieve complete embolization,” Abi-Jaoudeh said.
Abi-Jaoudeh continued that combining Instylla HES with other drugs is where she hopes research will go next, as well as evaluating patients treated with the embolic long term. “It’s still early,” she stated, but notes that their team is focused on following up the 66% of patients with malignant tumours in their cohort.
in 56.6% of patients. IrinotecanTACE was used in 57.2% of patients as salvage therapy for those who had progressive disease after at least one line of systemic therapy, whereas 42.8% of patients received irinotecanTACE as a post inductive/consolidation therapy with irinotecan-TACE before/ after systemic therapy or before/after thermal ablation. The prespecified treatment plan was completed in 89% and 72% of patients in each respective group.
Overall, the median OS was 14.5 months.
In the irinotecanTACE as salvage therapy group, median OS was 9.9 months and the median PFS was 3.8 months. The median OS for the treatment as post-inductive or consolidation therapy when used in combination with systemic therapy or thermal ablation was 19.1 months, and the median PFS was six months.
acts directly in the liver, an HPFS of 8.7 of the post-inductive/consolidation therapy should be highlighted”, state the authors.
Following a multivariable analysis, Arnold et al identified that for PFS, progressive disease outside the liver and liver involvement of 25–50%, or >50%, were identified as negative prognostic factors. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) score was generally stable or improved overall, Arnold et al add.
MEDIAN OVERALL SURVIVAL MONTHS 9.9 SALVAGE THERAPY MONTHS 19.1
POST-INDUCTIVE/ CONSOLIDATION THERAPY
“In both cohorts of patients receiving either salvage or post-inductive/ consolidation therapy, HRQoL considerations can contribute to a better understanding of patient-oriented treatment selection,” Arnold et al write.
Arnold et al highlight that the median HPFS was 6.2% with six- and 12-month HPFS rates of 52% and 24%, respectively. In the irinotecanTACE as post-inductive/consolidation therapy group, HPFS was reported as 8.7 months, which “since irinotecanTACE is a locoregional treatment that
Moreover, the authors emphasise the potential for irinotecan-TACE to be combined with other treatment strategies to “either intensify the liverdirected therapy or target extrahepatic disease”. However, randomised trials are needed to provide “robust evidence on how irinotecan-TACE can be integrated into a treatment pathway that minimises patient burden while preserving HRQoL”, Arnold et al conclude.
Nadine Abi-Jaoudeh
Industry News
Society of Interventional Radiology launches SIR Foundation Endowment
The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Foundation launched the SIR Foundation Endowment, a new funding stream designed to support interventional radiology (IR) research and education.
“Research frequently struggles due to inconsistent financial support, creating significant gaps in critical areas,” said SIR Foundation chair and the Ernest H Wood distinguished professor, Maureen P Kohi (University of North CarolinaChapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA). “The SIR Foundation is uniquely equipped to tackle this challenge, leveraging its expansive network of dedicated donors and researchers, united in their commitment to advancing IR research.”
A press release issued by SIR states that the endowment offers a reliable and sustainable revenue stream to support the SIR Foundation’s strategic mission to advance IR through research and education that supports research.
Xeltis announces the appointment of nephrology clinicians to its medical advisory board
Xeltis announced the appointment of clinical nephrology experts An De Vriese and Haimanot (Monnie) Wasse to its medical advisory board.
De Vriese is currently head of the
Conference calendar
15–18 May
Global Embolization Symposium Technologies (GEST) New York, USA www.hegestgroup.com
19 May
British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR) Paediatric IR Birmingham, UK www.bsir.org/events/specialinterest-events/bsir-paediatric-ir-ukannual-meeting/
division of nephrology and infectious disease in AZ Sint-Jan Brugge, in Brugge, Belgium, and guest professor at Ghent University in Gent, Belgium, while Wasse serves as the interim chair of the department of internal medicine, and the chief of nephrology and director of interventional nephrology at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, USA.
A press release by Xeltis has stated that both add considerable clinical nephrology expertise to the company’s medical advisory board and will work alongside current members to offer strategic and clinical guidance as Xeltis advances aXess towards commercialisation.
Eliane Schutte, chief executive officer of Xeltis said: “The appointments represent significant validation of the unique and promising nature of our technology from leading experts in the field.”
Life Seal Vascular appoints Matt Thompson as chief executive officer
Life Seal Vascular announced the appointment of Matt Thompson as chief executive officer (CEO).
A company press release has stated that Thompson’s career as a vascular surgeon and medical
22–24 May
International Conference on Complications in Interventional Radiology (ICCIR) Pörtschach, Austria www.uia.org/s/ca/en/1300596276
7–4 June
Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) 2025 New Orleans, USA www.vascular.org/vam-2025
device executive positions Life Seal Vascular to accelerate the development and commercialisation of its vascular technologies.
“We are thrilled to welcome Thompson as our CEO,” said Robert Mitchell, executive chairman of Life Seal Vascular. “His unique combination of clinical expertise and executive leadership in the vascular medical device industry makes him the ideal leader to drive our next phase of growth. His prior service on our board has provided him with deep insight into our company’s mission, and we are excited for his leadership as we advance our technologies into clinical use.”
Biotronik partners with Egg Medical to bring radiation protection systems to US healthcare workers
Biotronik is partnering with Egg Medical to co-sell the latter’s EggNest radiation protection systems for healthcare workers in the USA.
The EggNest Systems—EggNest XR, EggNest Protect & EggNest Complete—are radiation protection platforms that can be used across a wide variety of fluoroscopy procedure types without impacting workflow. The EggNest Systems are the only products commercially available in the USA able to protect everyone in the interventional suite, the two companies said
in a press release. Radiation reductions of up to 97% are possible with EggNest XR and EggNest Protect. That reduction reaches 99% with EggNest Complete, they added.
Teleflex announces acquisition of Biotronik’s Vascular Intervention business
Teleflex announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Biotronik’s vascular intervention business.
The acquisition reflects Teleflex’s commitment to investing in the estimated US$10 billion interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular market. A company press release states that the acquired business will expand the Teleflex portfolio to include a broad suite of vascular intervention devices such as drug-coated balloons and selfexpanding bare metal stents.
“We are excited to announce the acquisition of Biotronik’s vascular intervention business, which we anticipate will enhance our global presence in the cath lab, expand our suite of innovative technologies, and improve patient care,” said Liam Kelly, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Teleflex.
19–20 June
British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR) IOUK 2025 London, UK
The Radiological Imaging and Intervention Symposium (RiiSE) Glasgow, UK https://www.bsir.org/events/ special-interest-events/ir-juniorsevents/riise25/
26–27 June
British Society of Endovascular Therapy (BSET) Wotton-under-Edge, UK www.bset.co.uk/meetings/bsetannual-meeting-2025
11–14 July
European Conference on Embolotherapy (ET) Porto, Portugal www.etconference.org/
30 July–1 August
The Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia (IRSA) Melbourne, Australia https://irsa.com.au/education_ events/irsa-annual-scientificmeeting-2025/
