Simultaneous Multitarget Irradiation Using Helical Tomotherapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Multiple Extrahepatic Metastases
Received 17 June 2008; accepted 5 August 2008. published online 28 October 2008.
Purpose
The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic metastases is extremely poor. Helical tomotherapy, an image-guided, intensity-modulated radiotherapy system, can allow for simultaneous and precise targeting of multiple cancerous lesions, while sparing normal tissues. This study evaluated the feasibility and outcome of tomotherapy for advanced HCC with metastases.
Patients and Methods
A total of 42 consecutive HCC patients with metastases were treated with tomotherapy using the Hi-Art system. A total of 152 intra- and extrahepatic lesions (3.5 lesions/patient) were treated simultaneously, with a dose of 51.03 Gy (range, 30–57.61) in 10 fractions. Transarterial chemolipiodolization using epirubicin (50 mg) and cisplatin (60 mg) was repeated in patients with intrahepatic HCC (mean size, 9.0 cm) after tomotherapy.
Results
An objective response (complete response and partial response) was achieved in 45.2% of patients with intrahepatic tumors, 68.4% of patients with pulmonary lesions, 60.0% of patients with lymph node/adrenal lesions, and 66.7% of patients with soft-tissue metastases. The complete response rate for those with pulmonary and lymph node/adrenal metastases was 26.3% and 5.0%, respectively. The overall survival rate at 1 and 2 years was 50.1% and 14.9%, respectively, with a median survival of 12.3 months. The actuarial in-field tumor control rate for ≤1 year was 79.0%. No cases of Grade 4-5 acute toxicity occurred.
Conclusion
The results of this study have shown that helical tomotherapy is safe and feasible without major toxicities for the treatment of advanced HCC and results in excellent tumor control and a potential survival benefit. This approach is expected to be a useful palliative option for selected HCC patients with metastases.
∗Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
†Department of Radiation Oncology, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
‡Department of Radiology, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Reprint requests to: Jeong Won Jang, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, No. 665 Bupyeong-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, 403-720 South Korea. Tel: (+82) 32-510-5682; Fax: (+82) 32-510-5683
Chul Seung Kay, M.D., Department of Radiation Oncology, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, No. 665 Bupyeong-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, 403-720 South Korea. Tel: (+82) 32-510-5682; Fax: (+82) 32-510-5683
ABSTRACT