Radiation therapy for palliation of osseous metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

204 Background: Osseous metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is uncommon, and optimal palliative management for palliation is unclear. We present our clinical experience with palliative radiotherapy (RT) for osseous metastasis from HCC.

METHODS: Patients were identified using two prospectively maintained databases at our institution: all patients with HCC who developed metastases and all patients undergoing RT. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed following Institutional Review Board approval. We identified 146 patients with metastatic HCC, of which 28 patients with 38 osseous metastases were eligible for this analysis. All patients are seen in a multi-disciplinary clinic where consensus for management is developed. Most (89%) had metastasis at the time of initial tumor diagnosis, including 22 (79%) patients with osseous lesions at diagnosis. Tissue confirmation of metastasis was obtained in 22 (79%) patients. Outcomes of interest included patient-reported pain relief at time of follow-up, radiographic response at 6-12 months, and overall survival. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (IBM Corporation).

RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 61 years, and 86% (n = 24) were male. The most common site of metastasis was vertebral body (n = 26, 70%). Median time from bone metastasis diagnosis to RT was 1 month (range, 0-20). Only 1 patient received concomitant systemic therapy at the time of RT. Metastases were most commonly treated using 2D techniques (n = 26, 68%) to 30 Gy in 10 fractions (n = 18, 47%). Pain relief was complete, partial, and absent for 8 (21%), 24 (63%), and 6 (16%) metastases, respectively; no patient reported an increase in pain after treatment. Prescription BED3 > 50 Gy was associated with improved local control (P = .03). 7 (18%) radiographic local failures were observed at a median time of 5.4 months, and the 6-month local failure rate was 20.2%. Median survival was 3.4 months, with a 6-month survival rate of 39.1%.

CONCLUSIONS: Mortality for patients with osseous metastasis from HCC is high, but palliative RT is associated with significant pain relief and/or disease control in many patients. This data on efficacy of palliative RT helps guide optimal management of these patients.