Palliative Radiotherapy for Advanced Cancers: Indications and Outcomes

Graeme R Williams; Shwetha H Manjunath; Anish A Butala; Joshua A Jones

doi:10.1016/j.soc.2021.02.007

Palliative Radiotherapy for Advanced Cancers: Indications and Outcomes

Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2021 Jul;30(3):563-580. doi: 10.1016/j.soc.2021.02.007.

Authors

Graeme R Williams¹, Shwetha H Manjunath², Anish A Butala², Joshua A Jones²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Leonard Davis Institute of Healthcare Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: Graeme.williams@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
² Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

PMID: 34053669
DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2021.02.007

Abstract

Palliative radiotherapy (PRT) is well-tolerated, effective treatment for pain, bleeding, obstruction, and other symptoms/complications of advanced cancer. It is an important component of multidisciplinary management. It should be considered even for patients with poor prognosis, because it can offer rapid symptomatic relief. Furthermore, expanding indications for treatment of noncurable disease have shown that PRT can extend survival for select patients. For those with good prognosis, advanced PRT techniques may improve the therapeutic ratio, maximizing tumor control while limiting toxicity. PRT referral should be considered for any patient with symptomatic or asymptomatic sites of disease where local control is desired.

Keywords: Palliative care; Palliative radiotherapy; Radiation oncology; Supportive oncology.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
Palliative Care
Radiation Oncology*
Radiotherapy
Treatment Outcome