Local radiotherapy for palliation in multiple myeloma patients with symptomatic bone lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical outcomes of symptomatic bone lesions in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who received local radiotherapy (LRT).


METHODS
Fifty-one patients with 87 symptomatic bone lesions treated via LRT were analyzed. LRT was delivered at a median total dose of 21 Gy (range, 12 to 40 Gy) in a median of 7 fractions (range, 4 to 20 fractions). The clinical outcomes of LRT and the factors affecting treatment response were assessed.


RESULTS
After a median follow-up time of 66.7 weeks, symptom relief was achieved for 85 of 87 lesions (97.7%). The median time to symptom relief was 7 days from the start of LRT (range, 1 to 67 days). The duration of in-field failure-free survival ranged from 1.1 to 450.9 weeks (median, 66.7 weeks). The radiation dose or use of previous and concurrent chemotherapy was not significantly associated with in-field failure for LRT (p = 0.354, 0.758, and 0.758, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatic bone lesions in patients with MM can be successfully treated with LRT. A higher radiation dose or the use of concurrent chemotherapy may not influence the in-field disease control. A relatively low radiation dose could achieve remission of symptoms in patients with MM.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jeong Won
JW
Lee
Department of Radiation Oncology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jeong Eun
JE
Lee
Bone; Multiple myeloma; Palliative therapy; Radiotherapy