MODERATE HYPOFRACTIONATION RADIATION THERAPY IN ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract

Background:

Esophageal cancer is an aggressive disease with high mortality, mainly due to late stage diagnosis. Radiation therapy alone cannot cure patients who are either reluctant or medically unfit to receive chemotherapy or surgery. Moreover there is no evident optimal dose fraction schedule to treat these patients. We evaluated the outcomes of these esophageal cancer patients who were treated with moderate hypofractionation radiation therapy alone.

Method:

This retrospective study was conducted at Department of Radiation Oncology, Ziauddin University Hospital. A total of 52 patients from the year 2011 to 2015 were treated with moderate hypofractionation radiotherapy in two phases. In the first phase 30 Gy in 10 fractions were delivered and in the second phase 20 Gy in 10 fractions were given. We evaluated the treatment outcomes in these patients.

Results:

There were 27 (51.9%) males and 25 (48.1%) females with a mean age of 52.78 ±14.54 years. Mortality was observed in 47 (90.4%) patients with overall survival of 10.51 ±1.25 months. Overall survival was found to be significantly associated with grading (p-value = 0.030) andstages of cancer (p-value <0.001), and response to treatment (p-value = 0.031).

Conclusion:

According to this study, moderate hypofractionation radiotherapy alone has reasonable outcomes in esophagus cancer patients who are medically unfit or refuse chemotherapy or surgery due to personal choice.