title: Comparison of efficacy and toxicity of short-course carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma depending on their proximity to the porta hepatis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan. h_imada@nirs.go.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imada
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagi
authors.forename: Riwa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kandatsu
authors.forename: Jun-etsu
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mizoe
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamada
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yokosuka
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujii
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D007477:Ions