Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2014 | Research
Quality of life, fatigue and local response of patients with unstable spinal bone metastases under radiation therapy - a prospective trial
Authors:
Harald Rief, Maximiliane Heinhold, Thomas Bruckner, Ingmar Schlampp, Robert Förster, Thomas Welzel, Tilman Bostel, Jürgen Debus, Stefan Rieken, id="A10">German Bone Research Group
Published in:
Radiation Oncology
|
Issue 1/2014
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Abstract
Background
To evaluate the local response according to stability after radiotherapy (RT) with a special focus on quality-of-life (QoL), fatigue, pain and emotional distress in patients with unstable spinal bone metastases.
Methods
In this prospective trial, 30 patients were treated from September 2011 until March 2013. The stability of osteolytic metastases in the thoracic and lumbar spine was evaluated on the basis of the Taneichi-score after three and six months. EORTC QLQ-BM22, EORTC QLQ-FA13, and QSC-R10 were assessed at baseline, and three months after RT.
Results
After 3 months, 25% (n = 6) and after 6 months 33.3% (n = 8) were classified as stable. QoL, fatigue, and emotional distress showed no difference over the course. The pain response 3 months after RT showed a significant difference (p < 0.001). Pathological fractures occurred in 8.3% of the patients (n = 2) within six months following RT.
Conclusions
Our trial demonstrated that RT can improve stability in one third of patients over a 6-months period with unstable spinal metastases. Importantly, for these patients pain relief was detected but RT had no impact on QoL, fatigue, and emotional distress.