QuiremSpheres^® are tiny biodegradable polymer beads, called microspheres, that contain radioactive holmium-166. These microspheres are used during SIRT treatment. Because Holmium-166 emits gamma-radiation, it is visible on MRI and SPECT scans. This makes it possible to monitor the QuiremSpheres^® and how they are distributed in the tumor. These post-treatment images provide insight on treatment efficiency by determining whether all tumors have been efficiently targeted. This is then used to formulate a follow-up strategy.

QuiremSpheres^® received European regulatory approval (CE-mark) in 2015 for treating liver tumors that cannot be surgically removed. These tumors can either originate from liver (also known as primary liver cancer) or spread to the liver from other parts of the body (also known as secondary liver cancer or metastases).

The effectiveness and safety of SIRT depends on numerous patient related factors, such as anatomy, tumor blood supply, tumor type and tumor staging. It is therefore essential that the expected SIRT treatment outcome is evaluated for each patient individually. QuiremScout^® is used to simulate the SIRT treatment, using a safe dose of microspheres identical to those used for the therapy. QuiremScout^® is a micro dose of QuiremSpheres ^®and is used to safely evaluate the distribution of intra-arterially injected microspheres prior to performing SIRT. The insights gained with QuiremScout^® can be used by the treating physician to make an informed decision about the expected safety and efficacy of the SIRT procedure.

• Your treating physician injects QuiremSpheres^® into the liver artery through a small flexible tube, also known as a catheter. Access to the liver artery is usually obtained by creating a small puncture into the artery from either around the femur (near the groin) or the wrist. The catheter is then guided through the artery into the liver under x-ray imaging. A numbing medication will be applied at the site beforehand.
• The tiny QuiremSpheres^®are administered through this catheter and flow directly into the liver tumor via its own blood vessels and become permanently lodged in the small blood vessels surrounding the tumor.
• The entire administration procedure takes between 60-90 minutes