Hypofractionated radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

The study by Tsurugai et al. in this issue of Hepatology Research reports the outcomes and toxicities of hypofractionated radiotherapy for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) adjacent to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 1 The authors suggest that hypofractionated radiotherapy may be an alternative to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for these patients. In general, GI toxicities, such as ulcer, bleeding, and perforation, are important dose-limiting factors for SBRT, [2][3][4] and HCC adjacent to the GI tract may contra-