Houston-area patients with colon cancer that has spread to the liver now have the option of receiving care from radiologists from Synergy Radiology Associates (SRA), who are now able to use Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) in patients with liver-dominant, chemotherapy-resistant colorectal disease.

“This treatment offers new hope to patients suffering from this difficult disease,” said SRA interventional radiologist Michael Richter, MD, in a statement. “For radiologists, this updated guideline means we have another tool in our arsenal for treating a very challenging cancer diagnosis.”

The interventional radiology procedure delivers millions of tiny, radioactive SIR-spheres microspheres through blood vessels that go directly to the tumor site. It is the only fully FDA-approved microsphere treatment for colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver. The procedure is now a Category 2A-recommended treatment in the latest National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines for colon and rectal cancer.

“SIRT is an important part of a multidisciplinary approach to liver cancer that can help improve quality of life with fewer side effects, and we’re excited to make it available to area patients,” said SRA President Walid Adham, MD.

Patients reported just a few side effects and were usually released from the hospital four to six hours after the procedure. The procedure is now being performed at Memorial Hermann-The Woodlands Hospital, Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital and Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital.