Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is one of the therapeutic options to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other liver-related cancers. This procedure employs microspheres equipped with a radioactive isotope delivered through the hepatic artery so that they get lodged in the small vessels near the tumor. This is favored by the preferential blood flow towards the tumor with respect to the healthy liver. Radiation emitted near the tumor is utilized for therapeutic effect. Despite the success of TARE as an effective treatment for HCC, patient-specific optimization is expected to lead to large improvements in treatment response. In this project, the student will join a multi-disciplinary team, including physicians, physicists, and machine-learning engineers, to study the patient-specific factors and biomarkers impacting the response to TARE treatments, as well as the relationship between radiation dose and clinical outcomes.