Efficacy of haemostatic radiotherapy for bleeding related to nonoperable advanced gastric cancer.

[BACKGROUND] Data on the efficacy of haemostatic radiotherapy (RT) in patients with inoperable gastric cancer bleeding are lacking.

[AIMS] To assess the efficacy of haemostatic RT, identify factors predictive of a response and analyse patient outcomes in this setting.

[METHODS] We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of haemostatic RT in patients with bleeding related to inoperable gastric cancer. A response was defined as no recurrence of external bleeding and no requirement for new blood transfusion after RT. Post-RT survival (PRTS) was defined as the time from the last day of RT to death, and event-free survival (EFS) was defined as the time from the last day of RT to rebleeding, transfusion requirement or death.

[RESULTS] Thirty-five patients were included, among whom 17 (48.6%) were responders. The mean number of packed red blood cells transfused per patient decreased significantly in the 3 months following RT in both responders (p < 0.0001) and nonresponders (p < 0.0001). The median PRTS and EFS were significantly greater in responders than in nonresponders (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). No patient died because of tumour bleeding in the responder group versus 3 in the nonresponder group (p = 0.23).

[CONCLUSION] Palliative RT for inoperable advanced gastric cancer bleeding is safe, improves patient outcomes and reduces the need for packed red blood cell transfusion.