Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys: Application of short-range 2D radiotherapy in palliative care for esophageal cancer in developing countries.

Patients with localized advanced and metastatic esophageal cancer are often affected by cancer-related symptoms, which worsen their performance and quality of life.
study aims to determine the efficacy of short-range accelerated radiation therapy for symptom relief in resource-poor environments with only two-dimensional radiotherapy (RT) technology, the results of which have been published online in Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
plans to conduct a Phase II trial based on Simon's Phase 2 design.
using the Cobalt 60 unit (Equinox, Best Theratonics, Ottawa, Ontario), using two-dimensional traditional RT technology, four times in 2 days, 2 times a day, ≥8 hours apart, with a total dose of 12 Gy.
use the International Atomic Energy Agency scoring system to grade symptoms.
results, a total of 17 patients were treated (male/female: 10/7; middle age, 50.0 years; range, 27-78 years old; histology: 6 adenocarcinoma and 11 squamous cell carcinomas; tumor site: 4 gastroesophageal junctions and 13 esophageal tubes).
most common baseline symptoms were difficulty swallowing or gastrointestinal (100%), sore throat (76%) and chest or back pain (53%).
1 month after RT, all patients survived, with appeasement response rates (full plus) of 76%, 82%, 69% and 56%, respectively, for dysphagia, reflow, esophpathy, chest pain or back pain.
no patients showed ≥ G3 toxicity.
, the results show that the short-range accelerated radiotherapy, planned and implemented by conventional two-dimensional RT technology, is effective and well-to-bear for the symptoms of local late-stage or metastatic esophageal cancer.
schedule may be useful for RT centres in developing countries to reduce treatment time, costs and patient waiting times prior to treatment.
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