Comparison of efficacy and toxicity of short-course carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma depending on their proximity to the porta hepatis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and toxicity of short-course carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in terms of tumor location: adjacent to the porta hepatis or not.


METHODS
The study consisted of 64 patients undergoing C-ion RT of 52.8 GyE in four fractions between April 2000 and March 2003. Of these patients, 18 had HCC located within 2 cm of the main portal vein (porta hepatis group) and 46 patients had HCC far from the porta hepatis (non-porta hepatis group). We compared local control, survival, and adverse events between the two groups.


RESULTS
The 5-year overall survival and local control rates were 22.2% and 87.8% in the porta hepatis group and 34.8% and 95.7% in the non-porta hepatis group, respectively. There were no significant differences (P=0.252, P=0.306, respectively). Further, there were no significant differences in toxicities. Biliary stricture associated with C-ion RT did not occur.


CONCLUSIONS
Excellent local control was obtained independent of tumor location. The short-course C-ion RT of 52.8 GyE in four fractions appears to be an effective and safe treatment modality in the porta hepatis group just as in the non-porta hepatis group.
Imada
Hiroshi
H
Research Center for Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan. h_imada@nirs.go.jp
Kato
Hirotoshi
H
Yasuda
Shigeo
S
Yamada
Shigeru
S
Yanagi
Takeshi
T
Kishimoto
Riwa
R
Kandatsu
Susumu
S
Mizoe
Jun-etsu
JE
Kamada
Tadashi
T
Yokosuka
Osamu
O
Tsujii
Hirohiko
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000293:injuries / Q000528:radiation effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D007477:Ions