Efficacy of haemostatic radiotherapy for bleeding related to nonoperable advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND

Data on the efficacy of haemostatic radiotherapy (RT) in patients with inoperable gastric cancer bleeding are lacking.

AIMS: To assess the efficacy of haemostatic RT, identify factors predictive of a response and analyse patient outcomes in this setting.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of haemostatic RT in patients with bleeding related to inoperable gastric cancer. A response was defined as no recurrence of external bleeding and no requirement for new blood transfusion after RT. Post-RT survival (PRTS) was defined as the time from the last day of RT to death, and event-free survival (EFS) was defined as the time from the last day of RT to rebleeding, transfusion requirement or death.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were included, among whom 17 (48.6%) were responders. The mean number of packed red blood cells transfused per patient decreased significantly in the 3 months following RT in both responders (p < 0.0001) and nonresponders (p < 0.0001). The median PRTS and EFS were significantly greater in responders than in nonresponders (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). No patient died because of tumour bleeding in the responder group versus 3 in the nonresponder group (p = 0.23).

CONCLUSION

Palliative RT for inoperable advanced gastric cancer bleeding is safe, improves patient outcomes and reduces the need for packed red blood cell transfusion.