Radioactive beads offer hope for frail cancer patients

NCT ID NCT05092880

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: UMC Utrecht Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested a treatment called radioembolization for elderly or frail patients whose colorectal cancer has spread only to the liver and cannot be removed by surgery. Instead of standard chemotherapy, tiny radioactive beads are injected into the liver's blood supply to target tumors directly. The goal was to see if this approach could control the cancer with fewer side effects and better quality of life. The trial was terminated early after enrolling only 18 participants.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: holmium-166 microspheres
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a less toxic, more convenient treatment option for elderly or frail patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.
What could go wrong: This was a small, early-phase trial that was terminated early, so results are limited. The treatment may not control the cancer as well as standard therapy, and there are risks from radiation exposure to the liver.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

colorectal cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

COLORECTAL CANCER METASTATIC

Contacts and locations

Locations

UMC Utrecht

Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CX, Netherlands

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