Potentialities of palliative radiotherapy for urinary bladder cancer

Abstract

Objective: Comparative evaluation of the efficiency of palliative courses of external beam radiation therapy in patients with bladder cancer (BC).

Materials and Method: In 1990-2005, 26 patients with BC received a palliative course of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) using two regimens: 1) conventional fractionation Group 1 (n=13); 2) accelerated dynamic fractionation Group 2 (n=13).

Results: The immediate efficiency of EBRT was determined at moment of a rapid relief of local symptoms of disease (hematuria, pain, dysuria). A clinically significant response was achieved in 5 (38.5%) patients in Group 1, in 11 (84.6%) patients in Group 2 (p < 0.01). Twelve months after the completion of therapy, disease progression was noted in 8 (61.5%) patients in Group 1, and in 4 (30.8%) patients in Group 2 (p < 0.1). The median survival was 25.7 months in Group 1, and 28.1 months in Group 2. The palliative course of EBRT using the nontraditional technique caused no increase in the rate and severity of radiation reactions and complications.

Conclusion: Accelerated dynamic fractionation was found to reduce therapy time and to improve the results of treatment and life quality in incurable patients with BC. The trial is underway to make further studies of this issue.