About

Nadine Abi-Jaoudeh is a Professor of Clinical Radiology at the University of California, Irvine, specializing in Vascular & Interventional Radiology. She serves as the Chief of Radiological Sciences and the Director of Clinical Research within the School of Medicine. Dr. Abi-Jaoudeh earned her MD from the University of Montreal in 2002 and completed her residency in Radiology at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, in 2007. She further specialized through a fellowship in Interventional Radiology at the University of Virginia in 2008. Her research and clinical work focus on interventional radiology, with notable contributions to the assessment of ablation outcomes, management of hepatocellular carcinoma, and vascular interventions. Dr. Abi-Jaoudeh has been recognized with awards such as the Orange County Medical Association Physicians of Excellence Award in 2022 and has participated as a panel faculty at major radiology conferences. She is actively involved in academic societies including the Radiological Society of North America, Society of Interventional Radiology, and Society of Interventional Oncology, contributing to the advancement of interventional radiology practices and education.

Selected publications

• XACT‐guided interventional procedures: A feasibility study

  Medical Physics · 2026-04-01

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: X-ray Induced Acoustic Computed Tomography (XACT) is an emerging imaging technique that provides 3D volumetric images from a single projection by detecting X-ray-induced acoustic (XA) waves with ultrasound (US) transducers. Unlike MRI or CT, XACT enables real-time 3D imaging without long acquisition times, 2D limitations, or motion artifacts from mechanical rotation. Furthermore, when integrated with conventional pulse-echo US through time-sequenced operation, XACT provides complementary soft-tissue contrast, establishing it as a promising platform for dynamic interventional radiology (IR) guidance. PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of XACT as a novel imaging tool for IR, specifically for guiding needle placement and monitoring contrast agent dynamics. METHODS: We developed a 3D XACT imaging system equipped with a 256-element 2D matrix array and a portable X-ray tube to visualize needle insertion and contrast agent dynamics. To capture both needle position and soft tissue anatomy, we integrated a dual-modality system combining XACT with pulse-echo US using a 128-element linear US array. Experiments were conducted on both tissue-mimic phantoms and soft tissue samples. GPU-accelerated algorithm has been developed for 3D XACT image reconstruction. RESULTS: The results demonstrate the 3D capabilities of XACT imaging for interventional procedures, including monitoring of needle placement and tracking of contrast agent dynamics. The imaging speed reached up to 3∼4 s per frame, constrained by the repetition rate of the X-ray source and signal to noise ratio. The dual-modality approach provided clear visualization of the needle's position and the surrounding soft tissue structures, achieving imaging resolution around 2 mm. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that XACT imaging is feasible to be used for IR. Its 3D imaging capability with faster imaging speed would be an alternative to cone beam CT and its capability to combine US imaging will provide richer information for soft tissue.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pilot Study of Combining Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy with Pulsed Field Ablation for Oligometastatic/Oligoprogressive Lung Tumors

  Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology · 2025-08-11 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• 399: OUTCOMES BY KEY PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN EMERALD-1: A PHASE 3 STUDY OF DURVALUMAB ± BEVACIZUMAB WITH TRANSARTERIAL CHEMOEMBOLIZATION (TACE) IN PARTICIPANTS WITH EMBOLIZATIONELIGIBLE UNRESECTABLE HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA (UHCC)

  Gastroenterology · 2025-05-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• First-line use of antiangiogenic agents in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a double-edged sword?

  PubMed · 2025-07-30

  review

  Treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent primary liver malignancy, have historically been limited, particularly in unresectable cases with underlying cirrhosis. Initial systemic therapy with antiangiogenic agents, notably vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors such as sorafenib, showed modest survival gains but lacked durable responses. Subsequent trials with more potent VEGF pathway inhibitors failed to improve overall survival significantly, raising concerns about the long-term utility and potential hepatic and renal toxicities of prolonged VEGF blockade. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) marked a paradigm shift. Trial results demonstrating that dual-ICI regimens induced more durable responses and achieved higher long-term survival rates have challenged the prior VEGF-centric therapeutic approach and suggest that early use of dual ICIs may offer a more transformative effect on disease trajectory. Although anti-VEGF therapies remain valuable for initial tumor shrinkage, prolonged use may compromise liver regeneration and worsen portal hypertension. A refined treatment strategy emphasizing VEGF inhibition for a limited duration followed by or combined with ICIs may optimize both efficacy and safety. Future research should focus on identifying predictive biomarkers for ICI response and on developing regimens that maximize long-term survival in unresectable HCC.

  Publisher

• Racial Disparities in Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Treatment

  Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities · 2025-02-27

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To identify demographic predictors, with a focus on race and socioeconomic status, for advanced treatment modality, mortality, and increased length of stay (LOS) in upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage treatment. METHODS: Hospitalizations with acute upper GI hemorrhage from 2016 to 2021 were identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample. Cases were divided into interventional radiology (IR) and non-IR (endoscopic) treatments. Statistical analyses calculated significant odds ratios via 95% confidence intervals. The primary outcome of interest was mortality rate. The secondary outcome of interest was the mean LOS. Confounding factors affecting mortality were also examined. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in likelihood of an IR procedure or mortality between White patients and both Non-Hispanic (NH) Black and Hispanic patients. NH Black patients had significantly longer LOS in days compared to White patients (12.61 vs 9.57) that persisted when matching for age and sex (13.78 vs 9.92), socioeconomic status (12.94 vs 10.07), chronic comorbidities (11.33 vs 8.88), blood transfusions (14.46 vs 10.21), and vasopressor use (14.43 vs 10.29) (p < 0.001). These LOS differences were not seen under matching conditions post-COVID-19. CONCLUSION: This study presents racial disparities in LOS following acute upper GI hemorrhage, but no differences in advanced treatment utilization or mortality. Confounders were responsible for LOS differences in non-IR treatment, but NH Black patients had persistently longer LOS than White patients after IR treatment.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Golden Hamster: A Valuable Model for Designing Cancer Therapies

  Therapeutics · 2025-06-20

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Animal models are indispensable in biomedical research, offering critical insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. However, existing models often inadequately replicate human pathophysiology, leading to discrepancies between preclinical and clinical outcomes. Despite their contributions, many models exhibit significant limitations, especially concerning cancer and infectious diseases. Inaccurate modeling of human biological responses can result in failed clinical trials, escalated research costs, and delays in developing effective treatments. The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has emerged as a viable model, particularly in cancer and infectious disease research. Sharing physiological and immunological profiles similar to humans, the golden hamster offers distinct advantages over other rodent models, such as mice and rats. This review explores the benefits of using golden hamsters in cancer research, highlighting their contributions to scientific advancements while also addressing the limitations due to incomplete immunological and molecular knowledge about this species.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 594 Tumor necrosis-induced expansion of anti-tumor T cells enhanced the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and salvaged patients with immunotherapy-refractory cancers

  Regular and Young Investigator Award Abstracts · 2025-11-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Fibroids and Health Equity: Proceedings from the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation Research Consensus Panel

  Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology · 2025-05-27

  editorial
  PublisherDOI

• Promising Cellular Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer Using Classical Dendritic Cells and Natural Killer T Cells

  Cells · 2025-01-22 · 13 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality around the world. Despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies, the prognosis for patients with metastatic or advanced CRC remains poor. Immunotherapies comprising immune checkpoint inhibitors showed disappointing responses in metastatic CRC (mCRC). However, cellular immunotherapy, specifically using classical dendritic cells (cDCs), may hold unique promise in immune recognition for CRC antigens. cDCs are substantial players in immune recognition and are instrumental in orchestrating innate and adaptive immune responses by processing and presenting tumor antigens to effector cells. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are insufficiently studied but unique effector cells because of their ability to bridge innate and adaptive immune reactions and the crosstalk with dendritic cells in cancer. This review explores the therapeutic potential of using both cDCs and NKT cells as a synergistic therapy in CRC, focusing on their biological roles, strategies for harnessing their capabilities, clinical applications, and the challenges within the tumor microenvironment. Both cDCs and NKT cells can be used as a new effective approach for cell-based therapies in cancers to provide a new hope for CRC patients that are challenging to treat.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Abstract No. 27 Outcomes of Irreversible Electroporation for the Treatment of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

  Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology · 2025-02-19

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Labs

• Nadine Abi-Jaoudeh's LaboratoryPI

Awards & honors

• Orange County Medical Association Physicians of Excellence A…
• RSNA Certificate of Merit, Education Exhibit (November 2016)
• Second Prize Poster Award: Innovation and Applications of Ab…