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Hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy for bladder cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate hematuria-free survival as well as acute and late toxicity after hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy for bladder cancer.

Methods and materials

Between September 2004 and January 2013, 44 patients with biopsy-proven urothelial carcinoma of the bladder were irradiated according to a palliative schedule to a total dose of 34.5 Gy in six fractions of 5.75 Gy given once a week.

Results

After a mean follow-up of 10 months, 91 % of patients were still hematuria free, with a mean hematuria-free survival of 13 months. Severe (≥ grade 3) acute and late urinary toxicity was observed in 9 and 19 % of patients, respectively.

Conclusion

This hypofractionated radiotherapy schedule appears to result in acceptable toxicity and manages successful and long-term palliation of hematuria in most patients.

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Conflict of interest

All authors have read and approved the manuscript and have no conflicts of interest to declare or financial support from industry sources to disclose. All authors had full access to the primary data and have no problem in allowing a reanalysis by the editorial board or reviewers.

Financial support

Karin Haustermans is supported by a grant from the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Piet Dirix

    Present address: Department of Radiation Oncology, Iridium Cancer Network, GZA St Augustinus Hospital, Oosterveldlaan 24, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Antwerp, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Leuvens Kankerinstituut (LKI), University Hospitals Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

    Piet Dirix, Sofie Vingerhoedt & Karin Haustermans

  2. Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

    Steven Joniau & Ben Van Cleynenbreugel

Authors
  1. Piet Dirix
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  2. Sofie Vingerhoedt
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  3. Steven Joniau
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  4. Ben Van Cleynenbreugel
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  5. Karin Haustermans
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Piet Dirix.

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Dirix, P., Vingerhoedt, S., Joniau, S. et al. Hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy for bladder cancer. Support Care Cancer 24, 181–186 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2765-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2765-y

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