Potentials and prospects of using accelerated dynamic fractionation of palliative external beam radiation therapy in patients with bladder cancer

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of palliative courses of external beam radiation therapy in patients with bladder cancer (BC). In the years 1990-2008, 67 patients with BC received a palliative course of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) using three regimens: Group 1 (n=26) - conventional fractionation; Group 2 (n=21) - hypofractionation; Group 3 (n=20) - accelerated dynamic fractionation. The immediate efficacy of EBRT was determined from the rapid relief of local symptoms of disease (hematuria, pain, dysuria). In group 1, a clinically significant response was achieved in 40,0 % cases, in group 2 - in 71,4 %, in group 3 - in 92,9 % cases. At 12 months after the completion of therapy, disease progression was noted in 17 (65,4 %) patients of group 1, in 10 (47,6 %) patients of group 2, in 8 (47,1 %) patients of group 3. The median survival was 18,3 months in group 1; 22,0 months in group 2; 24,7 months in group 3. The palliative course of EBRT using the nontraditional technique did not result in increasing the rate and severity of radiation reactions and complications.