PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and therapeutic benefits of a combination of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) for treating patients with inoperable carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Of 31 patients who received RT at the Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea between 1986 and 1995, 17 patients underwent EBRT alone (Group 1) and 14 patients were treated with EBRT in combination with high-dose-rate ILBT (Group 2). After external drainage, EBRT was delivered with a total dose ranging from 36 to 55 Gy (median 50.4) in both groups. High-dose-rate ILBT for the patients in Group 2 was performed using a high-intensity (192)Ir source (Gamma-med remote afterloading system) within the expandable intrabiliary prosthesis (Gianturco stent), inserted transhepatically at the site of the obstruction. The radiation dose of the high-dose-rate ILBT was prescribed at 1.5 cm from the center of the source with a single daily dose of 5 Gy to a total of 15 Gy given in three fractions. The response rate, patterns of treatment failure, treatment morbidity, and survival data in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Although locoregional recurrence was the most common pattern of failure in both groups, no statistically significant difference was found in the recurrence rates between those who did and did not receive ILBT (53% for Group 1 vs. 36% for Group 2; p > 0.05). However, a prolongation of the median time to tumor recurrence was observed in the Group 2 patients (5 months for Group 1 vs. 9 months for Group 2; p = 0.06). When the EBRT dose delivered was >50 Gy, most patients experienced various degrees of GI symptoms, but the frequency of radiation-induced complications in the two groups was similar. No enhancement in treatment morbidity was attributed to the addition of high-dose-rate ILBT to EBRT. With a median follow-up of 12 months, the overall actuarial 2-year survival rate for Group 2 patients was significantly better than that for Group 1 patients (0% for Group 1 vs. 21% for Group 2; p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Given these observations, we believe that the combined use of EBRT and high-dose-rate ILBT is a beneficial, relatively safe, and effective method of improving the treatment outcome in selected patients with inoperable carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts.
PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and therapeutic benefits of a combination of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) for treating patients with inoperable carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Of 31 patients who received RT at the Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea between 1986 and 1995, 17 patients underwent EBRT alone (Group 1) and 14 patients were treated with EBRT in combination with high-dose-rate ILBT (Group 2). After external drainage, EBRT was delivered with a total dose ranging from 36 to 55 Gy (median 50.4) in both groups. High-dose-rate ILBT for the patients in Group 2 was performed using a high-intensity (192)Ir source (Gamma-med remote afterloading system) within the expandable intrabiliary prosthesis (Gianturco stent), inserted transhepatically at the site of the obstruction. The radiation dose of the high-dose-rate ILBT was prescribed at 1.5 cm from the center of the source with a single daily dose of 5 Gy to a total of 15 Gy given in three fractions. The response rate, patterns of treatment failure, treatment morbidity, and survival data in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Although locoregional recurrence was the most common pattern of failure in both groups, no statistically significant difference was found in the recurrence rates between those who did and did not receive ILBT (53% for Group 1 vs. 36% for Group 2; p > 0.05). However, a prolongation of the median time to tumor recurrence was observed in the Group 2 patients (5 months for Group 1 vs. 9 months for Group 2; p = 0.06). When the EBRT dose delivered was >50 Gy, most patients experienced various degrees of GI symptoms, but the frequency of radiation-induced complications in the two groups was similar. No enhancement in treatment morbidity was attributed to the addition of high-dose-rate ILBT to EBRT. With a median follow-up of 12 months, the overall actuarial 2-year survival rate for Group 2 patients was significantly better than that for Group 1 patients (0% for Group 1 vs. 21% for Group 2; p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Given these observations, we believe that the combined use of EBRT and high-dose-rate ILBT is a beneficial, relatively safe, and effective method of improving the treatment outcome in selected patients with inoperable carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts.
Authors: Roberta Rea; Francesco Maria Di Matteo; Margareth Martino; Monica Pandolfi; Paola Saccomandi; Carla Rabitti; Anna Crescenzi; Guido Costamagna Journal: Lasers Med Sci Date: 2017-06-30 Impact factor: 3.161
Authors: Sin Hyung Lim; Hyeon Woong Yang; Anna Kim; Sang Woo Cha; Sung Hee Jung; Hoon Go; Woong Chul Lee Journal: Korean J Intern Med Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 2.884