Radiotherapy for locally advanced unresectable gallbladder cancer - A way forward: Comparative study of chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

Background: For nonmetastatic locally advanced gallbladder cancer (LAGBC) which remains unresectable and nonmetastatic after chemotherapy, there is no consensus on whether to continue chemotherapy or add local radiotherapy (RT) for improving outcomes.

Materials and methods: Forty-five patients of surgically unresectable nonmetastatic LAGBC were analyzed. Twenty patients did not receive RT (no RT cohort) and received only chemotherapy, while 25 patients received RT (RT cohort) with conformal techniques along with concurrent gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. No RT and RT cohorts were compared for disease-related outcomes and toxicities.

Results: Median follow-up of the entire cohort was 11.5 months. Two-year progression-free survival (18.6% vs. 0%, P = 0.0001) and overall survival (37.3% vs. 5%, P = 0.0001) were significantly better in the RT cohort as compared to a no RT cohort. More number of patients had locoregional progression in the no RT cohort (85% vs. 32%, P = 0.0002). Radiation-induced acute and late gastrointestinal toxicity ≥ RTOG Grade 3 were seen in one and two patients, respectively.

Conclusion: Addition of local RT to chemotherapy improves the survival outcomes and can be considered as a definite treatment modality for nonmetastatic LAGBC patients not amenable to surgery who have responded to chemotherapy.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; gallbladder cancer; intensity modulated radiotherapy techniques; radiation therapy; unresectable.

Conflict of interest statement

None