Radiotherapy and chemotherapy in treatment of primary hepatic tumours

ABSTRACT

The present study comprised 25 patients who were randomly allocated to receive either intravenous systemic chemotherapy [group A] or chemotherapy coupled with hepatic irradiation [group B]. Subjective response was obtained in about 20 patients, complete disappearance of all symptoms was encountered in 7.7% and 16.6% of patients in group A and group B, respectively. When pain control was evaluated, a statistically significant better response was found in the group of combined chemotherapy and hepatic irradiation. There was no complete objective response to either chemotherapy or chemotherapy coupled with hepatic irradiation, partial response was achieved in 6 patients of group B [combined treatment]. In all patients showed objective response, the response was maintained for more than 4 weeks. No single life threatening complication has been faced. Moreover, the incidence of sever toxicity grade III was much lower than mild, moderate [I, II] toxicities in both treatment modalities. Mean overall survival in [months] in groups A was 4.86 +/- 1.31 versus 5.6 +/- 1.8 in group B