Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Liver Metastases

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  • Histologically confirmed non-lymphoma liver metastases
  • New radiographic liver lesions most consistent with metastases in a patient with known, histologically proven non-lymphoma cancer AND a previously negative CT scan, MRI, or PET/CT scan of the liver
• No more than 5 measurable lesions by contrast-enhanced liver CT scan, MRI, or PET/CT scan
• Liver metastases ≤ 8 cm
• Medically unfit for surgery OR lesions are surgically unresectable
• All intrahepatic disease must be encompassed within the study radiation field
• Extrahepatic disease outside the liver is allowed provided the hepatic disease is life-limiting
• At least 1,000 cc of normal liver
• No clinical ascites
• No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Performance status

• Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,800/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic

• No active hepatitis
• No clinically significant liver failure
• No underlying cirrhosis

Renal

• Not specified

Cardiovascular

• No congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the past 6 months
• No unstable angina pectoris requiring hospitalization within the past 6 months
• No transmural myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

Pulmonary

• No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except non-melanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity, cervix or primary liver metastasis
• No acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring IV antibiotics

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Chemotherapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• No anthracyclines within 4 weeks after completion of study therapy (1 week for other chemotherapy)

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy to the region of study
• No concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Surgery

• Prior liver resection or ablative therapy allowed

Other

• No concurrent warfarin or IV heparin