Whole-liver radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy as a palliative treatment for colorectal patients with massive and multiple liver metastases: a retrospective study

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(4):1597-602. doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.4.1597.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether whole-liver radiotherapy plus a tumor-boost dose with concurrent chemotherapy is beneficial for colorectal cancer patients with massive and multiple liver metastases. From January 2007 to December 2012, 19 patients who exhibited massive (with a longest diameter > 5 cm) and invasive liver metastases and multiple metastases were treated with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy. The total radiation dose was 53.4 Gy (range 38.8 Gy-66.3 Gy). All of the patients received a continuous intravenous dose of 5 fluorouracil (5-FU) 225 mg/m2 concurrently with radiation. The median survival time was 19 months. The 1- and 2- year overall survival rates were 78.3% and 14.3%, respectively. Of all of the patients who presented with abdominal pain, 100% experienced a decrease in pain. Decreases in the rates of ascites and jaundice were confirmed by ultrasound and bilirubin levels. No cases of Grade 4 or 5 acute or late toxicity were recorded. There were only two cases of Grade 3 toxicity (elevated bilirubin). These data provide evidence that whole-liver radiotherapy plus a tumor-boost dose with concurrent chemotherapy is beneficial for colorectal cancer patients with massive and multiple liver metastases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Ascites / diagnostic imaging
  • Ascites / prevention & control
  • Bilirubin / blood
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Jaundice / diagnostic imaging
  • Jaundice / prevention & control
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / radiation effects
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pain / radiotherapy*
  • Palliative Care
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Bilirubin
  • Fluorouracil