Late effect of multiple daily fraction palliation schedule for advanced pelvic malignancies (RTOG 8502)

Palliation of Pelvic and Head and Neck Cancer with Paclitaxel and a Novel Radiotherapy Regimen

“…Long-term follow-up confirmed that the late complication rate remained low at an actuarial rate of 6.9%. 5 This same palliative radiation schedule has been applied to patients with advanced head and neck malignancies with a 77% response rate and palliation in 85%, assessed by patient report, decrease in pain medicine use and weight gain. 6 Minimal acute reactions and no long-term complications were reported although the median survival rate after completion of radiotherapy was 4.5 months.…”

Palliative pelvic radiotherapy for gynaecologic cancer

“…No significant overall difference in symptom control was found withvaginal bleeding controlled in 97 % of patients. The crude late complication rate was 6 % with no significant difference seen between the 2-and 4-week arms [24]. This was a major reduction in toxicity from the previous RTOG trial, but the BID regimen required a significant time commitment from patients and those from out of town often required hospital admission.…”

Comprehensive care in gynecologic oncology: The importance of palliative care

“…External-beam radiotherapy may also be successful in controlling bleeding in patients with vaginal, vulvar, cervical and uterine cancer. Hypofractionation (for example, 2 fractions over 2-3 days) appears to be as effective and less distressing to patients than multiple fractions given over extended days in clinical cases associated with advanced pelvic malignancies [16]. Courses of hypofractionation can be completed with 2-4 week rest intervals between treatments up to a dose of 4440 cGy with no significant differences noted in response rates or complications.…”