Prognostic factors for local control and survival after radiotherapy of metastatic spinal cord compression.

Purpose: To evaluate potential prognostic factors for local control and survival after radiotherapy of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC).

Patients And Methods: The following potential prognostic factors were investigated retrospectively in 1,852 patients irradiated for MSCC: age, sex, performance status, primary tumor, interval between tumor diagnosis and MSCC (< or = 15 v > 15 months), number of involved vertebrae (one to two v > or = three), other bone metastases, visceral metastases, pretreatment ambulatory status, time of developing motor deficits before radiotherapy (faster, 1 to 14 v slower, > 14 days), and radiation schedule (short-course v long-course radiotherapy).

Results: On univariate analysis, improved local control of MSCC was associated significantly with favorable histology (breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma/myeloma), no visceral metastases, and long-course radiotherapy.

Defining the appropriate radiotherapy regimen for metastatic spinal cord compression in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Many different schedules are used world wide for radiotherapy (RT) of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have an extraordinarily poor survival prognosis and would benefit from a short overall treatment time. This retrospective study compares short-course RT (1 x 8 Gy/1 day, 5 x 4 Gy/1 week) and long-course RT (10 x 3 Gy/2 weeks, 15 x 2.

Short-course radiotherapy (RT) for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) due to renal cell carcinoma: results of a retrospective multi-center study.

Objective: For MSCC treatment, a short treatment time is desirable, especially if survival prognosis is poor. Survival depends on the primary tumor, extent of disease, performance status, ambulatory status, and the number of involved vertebrae. These factors may help to define the appropriate regimen for the individual patient.

Short-course radiotherapy is not optimal for spinal cord compression due to myeloma.

Purpose: To investigate the suitability of short-course radiotherapy (RT) for spinal cord compression (SCC) in myeloma patients.

Methods And Materials: Data for 172 myeloma patients irradiated between January 1994 and December 2004 for SCC were retrospectively evaluated. Short-course RT (1 x 8 Gy, 5 x 4 Gy, n = 61) and long-course RT (10 x 3 Gy, 15 x 2.