title: High dose chemoradiation for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinomas using intensity modulated external beam radiotherapy: a single tertiary care centre experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present results of patients diagnosed with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinomas treated with high dose radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From Aug 2005 to Dec 2012, 68 consecutive patients were treated. Fifty patients (group 1) presenting to us with obstructive jaundice were planned for endobiliary brachytherapy (EBBT 14 Gy) followed external beam radiotherapy (EBRT 45 Gy). Twenty-two patients (group 2) who had previously undergone biliary drainage underwent EBRT (57 Gy). All patients received injection Gemcitabine 300 mg/m2/weekly along with EBRT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients in group 1 and 22 patients in group 2 completed the treatment. Twenty-six (55%) patients achieved complete radiological response, 16 (64%) belonging to group 1 and 8 (44%) of group 2 (P=0.05). The median overall survival (MOS) was 17.5 and 16 months for group 1 and 2 respectively (P=0.07). The 1- and 2-year survival was 63%, and 18% for group I and 61% and 22% for group II respectively. The MOS was 5 months and 1 year survival was 14% for patients receiving EBBT only. MOS was significantly better after complete response (P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) modulated high dose radiotherapy used either alone or with brachytherapy demonstrates potential to prolonged overall survival in unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Reena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Engineer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Shaesta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalyani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, , Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Tejas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dharia
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, , Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, , Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Suyash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Shyam Kishore
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
keywords: Klatskin tumor; chemoradiation; intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)