Pain response after palliative-intent radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer: a systematic review.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of palliative-intent radiotherapy (RT) for pain relief in pancreatic cancer patients. Eleven studies were included, revealing pain response rates of 69-94% for conventional RT, 53-90% for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), and 80% for 8 Gy once weekly RT. The findings suggest palliative-intent RT is beneficial for managing pain.

Key findings

• Pain response rate for conventional RT was 69-94%.
• Pain response rate for SBRT ranged from 53-90%.
• Pain response rate for 8 Gy once weekly RT was 80%.
• Fewer than 10% of patients experienced grade ≥ 3 gastrointestinal adverse events.

Why it matters

Understanding the effectiveness of palliative-intent RT for pancreatic cancer-related pain is crucial for improving patient quality of life. This review highlights the potential benefits and variability in treatment responses.