Original Research Article
Effectiveness of several external beam radiotherapy schedules for palliation of esophageal cancer

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctro.2019.04.017Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • External beam radiotherapy provides good symptom control for esophageal cancer.

  • A higher dose schedule is related to a longer time to second intervention.

  • Life expectancy is valuable in selecting the optimal palliative treatment schedule.

Abstract

Background and purpose

Although external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is frequently used for palliative treatment of patients with incurable esophageal cancer, the optimal schedule for symptom control is unknown. This retrospective study evaluated three EBRT schedules for symptom control and investigated possible prognostic factors associated with second intervention and overall survival (OS).

Material and methods

Patients with esophageal cancer treated with EBRT with palliative intent between January 2009 and December 2015 were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models estimated the effect of treatment schedule (20 Gy in 5 fractions, 30 Gy in 10 fractions or 39 Gy in 13 fractions) on OS. To study the effect of prognostic factors on time to second intervention (repeat EBRT, intraluminal brachytherapy or stent placement) a competing risk model with death as competing event was used.

Results

205 patients received 20 Gy (31%), 30 Gy (38%) or 39 Gy (32%). Improvement of symptoms was observed in 72% with no differences between schedules. Median OS after 20 Gy, 30 Gy and 39 Gy was 4.6 months (95%CI 2.6–6.6), 5.2 months (95%CI 3.7–6.7) and 9.7 months (95%CI 6.9–12.5), respectively. Poor performance status (HR 2.25 (95%CI 1.53–3.29)), recurrent esophageal cancer (HR 1.69 (95%CI 1.15–2.47)) and distant metastasis (HR 1.73 (95%CI 1.27–2.35)) were significantly related to worse OS. Treatment with 30 Gy and 39 Gy was related to longer time to second intervention compared to 20 Gy (adjusted cause specific HR 0.50 (95%CI 0.25–0.99) and 0.27 (95%CI 0.13–0.56), respectively).

Conclusions

Palliative EBRT provides good symptom control in patients with symptomatic esophageal cancer. A higher dose schedule was related to a longer time to second intervention. Hence, selection based on life expectancy is vital to prevent unnecessary long treatment schedules in patients with expected short survival, and limit the chance of second intervention when life expectancy is longer.

Keywords

Palliation
External beam radiotherapy
Esophageal cancer
Effectiveness
Second intervention
Survival

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