Palliative radiation therapy for hemorrhage of unresectable gastric cancer: a single institute experience

Purpose To clarify the toxicity of palliative radiotherapy (RT) and its efficacy against bleeding of unresectable gastric cancer. Methods Clinical data of 19 patients received palliative RT for bleeding from unresectable gastric cancer were reviewed. The median total dose and dose per fraction were 40 Gy (range 2-50 Gy) and 2.5 Gy (range 1.8-3 Gy). Results The treatment success rate was 68.4%. By using a tumor alpha/beta ratio of 10, biological effective dose of 50 Gy₁₀ or more was significantly correlated with treatment success (P = 0.040). The median event-free survival was 1.5 months after RT and the median overall survival from starting RT was 3.4 months. Grade 3 nausea and anorexia were recorded in 1 and 3 patients, respectively. Conclusion Palliative RT was effective for hemostasis in patients with gastric cancer bleeding with minor adverse events.