Marte G Cameron1, Christian Kersten1, Ingvild Vistad2, Rene van Helvoirt1, Kjetil Weyde3, Christine Undseth4, Ingvil Mjaaland5, Eva Skovlund6, Sophie D Fosså4, Marianne G Guren4,7. 1. a Center for Cancer Treatment, Sørlandet Hospital , Kristiansand , Norway. 2. b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sørlandet Hospital , Kristiansand , Norway. 3. c Department of Oncology , Innlandet Hospital , Gjøvik , Norway. 4. d Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway. 5. e Department of Oncology , Stavanger University Hospital , Stavanger , Norway. 6. f Department of Public Health and General Practice , Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health , Oslo , Norway. 7. g K. G. Jebsen Colorectal Cancer Research Centre , Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Palliative pelvic radiotherapy (PPRT) is used to treat locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) although symptomatic effects and toxicities are poorly documented. Aims were to evaluate symptom severity, quality of life (QOL) and toxicity after PPRT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with symptomatic primary or recurrent RC prescribed PPRT with fractions of 3 Gy to 30-39 Gy were included. Primary outcome was severity of target symptoms (TS) 12 weeks after PPRT. Pelvic symptom burden, toxicity, and QOL were assessed. Response was defined as patient-reported TS improvement or resolution. RESULTS: Pain (n = 24), rectal dysfunction (n = 16), and hematochezia (n = 9) were the most common TSs. Overall response rate among evaluable patients 12 weeks after PPRT was 28/33 (85%). Eighteen patients did not complete the study follow-up, 16 due to deteriorating health. TS responses were 10/13 (77%) for pain, 9/10 (90%) for rectal dysfunction, and 8/8 for hematochezia. Non-target pelvic symptom severity decreased and median QOL scores remained stable. There was no grade 4 toxicity. Median survival was nine months. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of patients with symptomatic primary or recurrent RC, PPRT with 30-39 Gy contributes to pelvic symptom relief, with little toxicity. Patients prescribed PPRT of RC have limited life expectancy. Future studies should investigate simplification of PPRT.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Palliative pelvic radiotherapy (PPRT) is used to treat locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) although symptomatic effects and toxicities are poorly documented. Aims were to evaluate symptom severity, quality of life (QOL) and toxicity after PPRT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with symptomatic primary or recurrent RC prescribed PPRT with fractions of 3 Gy to 30-39 Gy were included. Primary outcome was severity of target symptoms (TS) 12 weeks after PPRT. Pelvic symptom burden, toxicity, and QOL were assessed. Response was defined as patient-reported TS improvement or resolution. RESULTS:Pain (n = 24), rectal dysfunction (n = 16), and hematochezia (n = 9) were the most common TSs. Overall response rate among evaluable patients 12 weeks after PPRT was 28/33 (85%). Eighteen patients did not complete the study follow-up, 16 due to deteriorating health. TS responses were 10/13 (77%) for pain, 9/10 (90%) for rectal dysfunction, and 8/8 for hematochezia. Non-target pelvic symptom severity decreased and median QOL scores remained stable. There was no grade 4 toxicity. Median survival was nine months. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of patients with symptomatic primary or recurrent RC, PPRT with 30-39 Gy contributes to pelvic symptom relief, with little toxicity. Patients prescribed PPRT of RC have limited life expectancy. Future studies should investigate simplification of PPRT.
Authors: Esther Tahover; Rachel Bar-Shalom; Eli Sapir; Raphael Pfeffer; Igor Nemirovsky; Yehonatan Turner; Maya Gips; Patricia Ohana; Benjamin W Corn; Andrew Z Wang; Alberto A Gabizon Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2018-11-26 Impact factor: 6.244
Authors: Petra A Custers; Barbara M Geubels; Inge L Huibregtse; Femke P Peters; Ellen G Engelhardt; Geerard L Beets; Corrie A M Marijnen; Monique E van Leerdam; Baukelien van Triest Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2021-12-16 Impact factor: 6.639