Efficacy and safety of short-course carbon ion radiotherapy for elderly hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Purpose: Since 1995, carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) has been performed for treatment of HCC, and clinical trials were initiated at the National Institute of Radiological Science (NIRS). This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of C-ion RT in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). \nMaterials and methods: Sixty-four patients with HCC, including 24 elderly (aged >70 years) patients, were treated with C-ion RT of 52.8GyE in 4 fractions between April 2000 and March 2003. Baseline characterstics, local control/survival rates, and adverse events were compared between elderly and non-elderly patients (≤70 years old vs. >70 years old). \nResults: There were no significant differences in UICC clinical stage and Child-Pugh grade between the 2 groups. No hepatic failure resulting from the therapy and no treatment-related death occurred. The cumulative overall survival rates in the elderly group were 58.3% at 3 years and 29.2% at 5 years, which was equivalent to the non-elderly group. The local control rates after both 3 and 5 years were 95.8% and 92.4% in the elderly group and the non-elderly group, respectively. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups. \nConclusions: Short-course C-ion RT for the patients with HCC appears to be safe and effective in elderly patients, as well as non-elderly patients.
The 22nd Congress of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver