Radiat Oncol J.  2016 Dec;34(4):297-304. 10.3857/roj.2016.01879.

Postoperative radiotherapy appeared to improve the disease free survival rate of patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer at high risk of loco-regional recurrence

• Kim MY
• Kim JH
• Kim Y
• Byun SJ

• KMID: 2366051
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3857/roj.2016.01879

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the outcomes of postoperative radiotherapy (RT), in patients with extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer by comparing the survival rate between patients undergoing surgery alone or surgery plus postoperative RT, and to identify the prognostic factors affecting survival.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between 2000 and 2013, 52 patients with EHBD cancer underwent surgical resection. Of these, 33 patients did not receive postoperative RT (group I), and 19 patients did (group II). R1 resection was significantly more frequent in group II. The median radiation dose was 5,040 cGy.
RESULTS
The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate for group I and group II was 38% and 56%, respectively (p = 0.274). The 3-year disease free survival (DFS) rate for group I and group II was 20% and 31%, respectively (p = 0.049), and the 3-year loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRFS) rates were 19% and 58%, respectively (p = 0.002). Multivariate analyses showed that postoperative RT and lymphovascular invasion were independent prognostic factors for DFS and LRFS. Overall, 42 patients (80%) experienced treatment failure. Distant metastasis was the predominant pattern of failure in group II.
CONCLUSION
Postoperative RT after surgical resection appeared to improve the loco-regional control and DFS rate. More effort is needed to reduce distant metastasis, the major pattern of failure, in patients who receive postoperative RT.

Keyword

Extrahepatic bile duct cancer; Postoperative; Radiotherapy; Survival

MeSH Terms

Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic*
Disease-Free Survival*
Humans
Multivariate Analysis
Neoplasm Metastasis
Radiotherapy*
Recurrence*
Survival Rate
Treatment Failure