Background/Aim: At our institution, the “optimized weekly 8 regimen,” administered as a single 8-Gy fraction once weekly for up to 3-4 fractions, is used for palliative radiotherapy. This study retrospectively evaluated treatment outcomes associated with this regimen. Patients and Methods: Between August 2023 and June 2024, we reviewed patients who received the “optimized weekly 8 regimen” at our institution. Treatment outcomes, including adverse events and clinical responses such as symptom relief and objective tumor response, were assessed. Results: A total of 45 lesions in 42 patients were included in the analysis. Among these, 26 lesions were located in the head and neck area, and 19 were in other areas. The irradiation schedules comprised 32 Gy in four fractions (11 lesions), 24 Gy in three fractions (24 lesions), and 16 Gy in two fractions (10 lesions). Among evaluable lesions, symptom relief was achieved in 29 of 38 (76%) assessed lesions, and an objective tumor response was observed in 12 of 25 (48%). Among patients who received a total irradiation dose of ≥24 Gy, 93% of patients who had assessable cancer lesions located in the head and neck area achieved symptom relief, and 75% demonstrated an objective tumor response. One patient who received a total dose of 24 Gy experienced grade 3 mucositis, and no grade ≥4 adverse events were observed. Conclusion: Overall, the “optimized weekly 8 regimen” appears to be a well-tolerated palliative radiotherapy approach, particularly for patients with head and neck cancer, providing symptom relief and measurable tumor responses with minimal severe adverse events.
FUJISAWA et al. (Fri,) studied this question.