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World Journal of Oncology

Original Article

Volume 9, Number 3, June 2018, pages 91-95

Comparison of Single Versus Multifraction Radiotherapy in Palliation of Painful Bone Metastases

Metastatic bone disease is a common problem encountered in oncology practice [1]. Of all cancer patients, about 50% develop metastases in their lifetime [2]. In advanced cancer, bones are the third most common site of metastases [3] and the common primary sites responsible are lung, breast and prostate. Other primary malignancies causing bone metastases are urinary bladder, kidney, uterus, melanoma and thyroid [4]. Skeletal metastases are usually multiple, solitary metastases and are seen only in 10% cases [5]. Bone metastasis cause pain directly through local invasion and indirectly through alteration of the remodelling activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts [6]. Proper care of bone metastases requires inter-disciplinary multispecialty coordination [7]. The management of bone metastases includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, surgery, radionuclide and supportive therapy alone or in combination [8]. The treatment intent is usually palliative and treatment goal includes pain relief, preservation of function, mobility and quality of life [5]. Radiotherapy is the most effective treatment for bone metastases [9] and 60-80% of patients respond to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with 25-30% of patients attaining complete pain relief [7].

To compare three schedules of external radiation therapy (8 Gy single session versus 20 Gy/5 fractions versus 30 Gy/10 fractions) for palliative management of bone metastases and evaluate the intensity of pain/pain palliation using visual analog scale (VAS), analgesic requirement and performance status using Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale in these patients before and after treatment.

In the present study, 60 patients of bone metastases from any primary site were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups of 20 patients each by draw of lots. The current study was first approved by our Institutional Review Board (IRB). All the enrolled patients received palliative external beam radiation therapy to the involved site. Patients were given 8 Gy single session, 20 Gy/5 fractions/1 week and 30 Gy/10 fractions/2 weeks in groups I, II and III, respectively.

Patients who had previous radiotherapy to the region concerned, or any co-morbid conditions to which the patient’s symptoms could be attributed or were pregnant were excluded from the study. In all the groups, external beam radiation was delivered on a telecobalt machine taking appropriate margins as per guidelines.

Patients were followed up for a total duration of 6 months, that is, weekly for 1 month, after completion of radiotherapy and then monthly up to 6 months. At each follow-up, patients were assessed for pain palliation using the VAS, analgesic requirement and functional outcome using the ECOG performance scale and the KPS.

Overall pain response is defined as decrease in pain score by at least two points with respect to the pre-treatment value. Complete pain response is defined as achieving a pain score of 0 at any point during follow-up. Duration of overall pain response is defined as time from initial response till return of pain to its baseline value.

The baseline characteristics of the patients in all the groups were comparable and are described in Table 1. The mean ages of the patients were 58.6, 60.5 and 56.5 years in groups I, II and III, respectively. Seventy percent of patients were males and 68% were from rural background. Pre-treatment KPS ≥ 60 was seen in 70% of group I and 60% patients each of groups II and III. Prostate was the most common primary site comprising 35% of all cases followed by lung and breast (22% and 15%, respectively). In group I, most patients presented with multiple sites of bony metastases (40%). In groups II and III, spine was the most common site of metastases (40% and 50%, respectively). In each group, spine was the most common site of radiotherapy (40%, 45% and 50% in groups I, II and III, respectively) followed by pelvis (40%, 40% and 25% in groups I, II and III, respectively).

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Table 1. Patient Characteristics

The post-treatment observations of the patients in the three groups are described in Table 2. The percentage of patients with overall pain relief was 80% in group I, 75% in group II and 85% in group III (P = 0.7). The number of patients with complete pain relief was 4 (20%) in each group. Maximum patients got pain relief at 4 weeks post-radiotherapy. The mean pain score before treatment was 80, 82, and 88 in groups I, II and III, respectively (P = 0.02). The minimum mean pain score was observed in the third month (31.5, 37.8 and 31.6 in groups I, II and III, respectively). At the fifth and sixth month follow-up, there was an increase in mean pain score from nadir (44.5, 50.5 and 45.5 in groups I, II and III, respectively) but never equal to or above pre-treatment values. The number of patients with improved performance status was 4 (20%) in group II and 2 (10%) each in groups I and III (P = 0.5). Thirteen (65%) patients in each of the groups had decreased analgesic requirement at 2-month follow-up. However, there was a trend to increase in use of analgesics after 3-month follow-up due to recurrence of pain. At the second month follow-up, 25% patients in each group were free of analgesic use. There was a downward shift in WHO pain ladder from use of narcotics to simple analgesics/NSAIDS in all the groups. At the fourth week of follow-up, use of narcotics reduced from 45% to 30%, while use of simple analgesics increased from 30% to 45% in group I. Similarly, in group II use of narcotics reduced from 60% to 25% accompanied by an increase in use of simple analgesics from 40% to 50%. The use of narcotics also decreased in group III from 50% to 10% supplemented by an increase in use of simple analgesics from 20% to 50%. The mean durations of pain relief among responders was 23.5 weeks, 22.6 weeks and 21.9 weeks in the groups I, II and III, respectively (P = 0.817). Four (20%) patients of group I underwent re-irradiation compared to only one patient in group II and none in the third group (P = 0.05).

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Table 2. Post-Treatment Observations

The economic impact of the multifraction regimens in relation to cost of travel from home to treatment center and back was assessed and is summarized in Table 3. The expenditure is more economical in group I as compared to other groups as group II being 5-day treatment schedule while group III being 10-day treatment schedule.

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Table 3. Assessment of Economic Impact in the Multifraction Regimens

The treatment modality of choice for palliation of metastatic bone metastases is considered to be local site radiotherapy [10]. There are various fractionation schedules of radiotherapy used for the palliation of bone metastases. Various studies conducted worldwide have shown single session radiotherapy to be equally effective as multifraction radiotherapy in palliation of bone metastases [11-13]. A recent meta-analysis to find the role of radiotherapy in bone metastases have shown no statistically difference in complete response or overall response to radiotherapy among various fractionations but found higher retreatment rates in the single fraction arms [10].

The Bone Trial Working Party Study Group (BTWPG) reported a large-scale trial, which compared 8 Gy in a single fraction versus 20 Gy in 5 fractions or 30 Gy in 10 fractions in 765 patients. There were no significant differences in the time to first improvement in pain, time to complete pain relief, or time to the first increase in pain at any time up to 12 months from randomization. Furthermore, the class of analgesic used and the adverse events also showed no significant differences. According to the authors, a single fraction of 8 Gy was as safe and effective as a multifraction regimen for the palliation of metastatic bone pain for at least 12 months. However, retreatment was twice as common after 8 Gy than after multifraction radiotherapy [14]. In literature, various other randomized studies were conducted to establish the results of different fractionation schedules of palliative radiotherapy in bone metastases to compare their results (Table 4). It was concluded that single fraction radiotherapy was as effective as multifraction regimens in palliation of bone metastases but retreatment was more frequent in the single fraction regimen [15-20]. A recent update of the ASTRO (American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) evidence-based guideline regarding palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases concluded that there was strong evidence of pain relief equivalency between single and multiple fraction regimens for bone metastases [21]. Similar results were observed in our present study wherein there was no statistical difference in complete pain relief (20% in each group) and overall pain relief (80%, 75% and 85% in groups I, II and III, respectively (P = 0.7). However, retreatment rate was more in the single fraction (20%) compared to only one patient in group II and none in the group III (P = 0.05). Also, when comparing between the multifractional regimens, group I appears to be most economical (Rs 1,010 per patient); however, because of added advantage of most effective palliation in group II, it appears to be economically more feasible and favorable, because total expenditure on travel during radiation treatment is almost double in group III (Rs 9,700 per patient) as compared to group II (Rs 5,120 per patient).

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Table 4. Randomized Trials Comparing Single versus Multifraction Radiotherapy in Bone Metastases

From the present study we conclude that 8 Gy single fraction is as effective as multifraction radiotherapy for the palliation of painful bone metastases. However, for a center like ours being the only Government Tertiary Cancer Care Centre in the State, general consensus drawn from this study, recommends external radiation therapy 20Gy/5 fraction regimen to be an appropriate means of palliation of painful bone metastases as it has the same level of palliation as the 30Gy/10 fraction arm with shorter total duration of treatment. The socioeconomic cost of a single fraction arm is superior to other arms; however, because of effective palliation in group II, and almost half of the economic burden as compared to group III, 5-fraction arm shows added advantage in form of socioeconomic feasibility and effective palliation over the other arms.

Acknowledgments

We are thankful for our Departmental team for their help in collection of data and statistical analysis.

Conflicts of Interest

There is no conflict of interest.

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