Palliative radiation therapy : a retrospective study

Abstract

Palliative radiation therapy protocols, indications, goals, outcomes, prognoses, performance scaling, and toxicities were investigated in 95 patients. The most common protocol was 8 Gy x 4 fractions = 32 Gy, however median survival was longest with a 6 Gy x 5 fractions = 30 Gy protocol. The main indication was found to be a tumor not amenable to definitive therapy and the main goal was relief of cancer-related symptoms. Tumor response was most commonly stable disease. Despite performance scoring, survival predictions were generally inaccurate but overly pessimistic for grave prognoses. Neither toxicity prevalence nor tumor response was significantly different between the common protocols, which were well tolerated with no significant toxicities appearing below 24 Gy. Above this, ulceration was most prevalent but seldom outlasted patient survival, thereby making palliative radiation a valuable modality in end-stage cancer treatment.