Three-dimensional conformal or stereotactic reirradiation of recurrent, metastatic or new primary tumors. Analysis of 108 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the outcome of reirradiation of recurrent/metastatic or new primary tumors with three-dimensional conformal (3D-CRT) or stereotactic (SRT) techniques.


METHODS
108 patients reirradiated between 01/2002 and 01/2005 at the European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy, were analyzed. Primary diagnosis included breast, lung, head/neck, urologic tumors, and other primaries. Curative and palliative intent were applied to 27 (25%) and 81 patients (75%), respectively. 3D-CRT and SRT were employed in 57 (53%) and 48 patients (44%), respectively, up to a mean dose of 23 Gy.


RESULTS
Median follow-up was 7 months (range, 1-50 months). Response, stabilization, and progression were observed in 33%, 36%, and 17% of patients, respectively (15 patients were not evaluable). No severe toxicity was reported. Median overall survival amounted to 32.6 months and was longer in patients treated with curative intent.


CONCLUSIONS
A small portion of patients can be cured with a second course of radiotherapy, and in many cases, palliation can be obtained. Low toxicity of reirradiation with use of modern techniques should allow for the delivery of higher doses and, in consequence, lead to an improvement in reirradiation outcome.
Jereczek-Fossa
Barbara A
BA
Division of Radiotherapy, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. barbara.jereczek@ieo.it
Kowalczyk
Anna
A
D'Onofrio
Alberto
A
Catalano
Gianpiero
G
Garibaldi
Cristina
C
Boboc
Genoveva
G
Vitolo
Viviana
V
Leonardi
Maria Cristina
MC
Cambria
Raffaella
R
Orecchia
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D019233:Retreatment; D015996:Survival Rate