Short-course palliative radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of short-course hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) for the palliation of uterine cervical cancer.Materials and MethodsSeventeen patients with cancer of the uterine cervix, who underwent palliative hypofractionated 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy between January 2002 and June 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. RT was delivered to symptomatic lesions (both the primary mass and/or metastatic regional lymph nodes). The total dose was 20 to 25 Gy (median, 25 Gy) in 5 Gy daily fractions.ResultsThe median follow-up duration was 12.2 months (range, 4 to 24 months). The median survival time was 7.8 months (range, 4 to 24 months). Vaginal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom followed by pelvic pain (9 patients). The overall response rates were 93.8% and 66.7% for vaginal bleeding control and pelvic pain, respectively. Nine patients did not have any acute side effects and 7 patients showed minor gastrointestinal toxicity. Only 1 patient had grade 3 diarrhea 1 week after completion of treatment, which was successfully treated conservatively. Late complications occurred in 4 patients; however, none of these were of grade 3 or higher severity.ConclusionShort-course hypofractionated RT was effective and well tolerated as palliative treatment for uterine cervical cancer.

Palliative external beam radiotherapy for the treatment of tumor bleeding in inoperable advanced gastric cancer

“…EBRT is an effective treatment option for relief of symptoms, such as pain, dysphagia, dyspnea, and tumor bleeding [ 14 – 17 ]. There are a limited number of studies focusing on palliative EBRT to relieve tumor bleeding in advanced gastric cancer [ 7 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 18 , 19 ] (Table 2 ).…”

Tailored radiotherapeutic strategies for disseminated uterine cervical cancer patients

“…Otherwise, the role of RT might be limited to palliative therapy to relieve vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain, or to prevent vesicovaginal or rectovaginal fistula caused by local progression. Palliative RT is effective for providing relief from vaginal bleeding, pain, and other symptoms [ 4 , 5 , 26 ]. The overall response rate was more than 90% for vaginal bleeding control [ 5 , 26 ].…”

Progestin-releasing intrauterine device insertion plus palliative radiotherapy in frail, elderly uterine cancer patients unfit for radical treatment

“…The documentation of multiple comorbidities in elderly patients represents an even more complex condition, so that exclusive RT can be hardly affordable given the poor performance status of patients, their presumed higher risk of sequelae and in certain cases, the existence of logistic obstacles. In this context, the efficacy of palliative radiation schedules in terms of local symptom control has been confirmed in several studies (4)(5)(6)(7)(8): in particular, among palliative RT fractionation schedules utilized in pelvic malignancies, the most common implies the use of doses within 20-40 Gy in 5-20 fractions, as reported by clinical experiences in other tumor sites (4). Alternatively, shorter schedules have also been attempted, which proved to achieve satisfying rates of overall symptom relief (41-60%) (6,9).…”