Assessing Patient Outcomes after Palliative Radiotherapy Using IG-IMRT

Purpose: To assess clinical outcomes after using IG-IMRT for palliation among patients with advanced cancers. Methods: Patients with advanced and/or metastatic cancers were treated on our Tomo-PAL (Tomotherapy-Planning and Administration Linked) protocol using helical TomoTherapy and evaluated to assess clinical efficacy of treatment as well as to assess side effects. Results: A total of 40 patients were treated to 40 sites from Feb 2007 to May 2009. There were 25 men and 15 women with a median age of 70 years (range 16 94). Pain and bleeding were the most common symptoms being palliated (80% and 12.5% respectively). The dose prescribed ranged from 5 25 Gy in 1 5 fractions. A qualitative improvement in symptoms was documented in 82% of patients (75% partial relief and 7% complete relief) and major side effects were not encountered. Conclusions: IG-IMRT can be used for palliation and produces response rates that compare favourably with those reported in the published literature.