Prospective randomized comparison of single-dose versus hyperfractionated total-body irradiation in patients with hematologic malignancies.

PURPOSE

Fractionated total-body irradiation (HTBI) is considered to induce less toxicity to normal tissues and probably has the same efficacy as single-dose total-body irradiation (STBI) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. We decided to determine whether this concept can be applied to a large number of patients with various hematologic malignancies using two dissimilar fractionation schedules.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between December 1986 and October 1994, 160 patients with various hematologic malignancies were randomized to receive either a 10-Gy dose of STBI or 14.85-Gy dose of HTBI.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-seven patients were assessable. The 8-year overall survival rate and cause-specific survival rate in the STBI group was 38% and 63.5%, respectively. Overall survival rate and cause-specific survival rate in the HTBI group was 45% and 77%, respectively. The incidence of interstitial pneumonitis was similar in both groups. However, the incidence of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver was significantly higher in the STBI group. In the multivariate analysis with overall survival as the end point, the female sex was an independent favorable prognostic factor. On the other hand, when cause-specific survival was considered as the end point, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that sex and TBI were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of HTBI is probably higher than that of STBI. Both regimens induce similar toxicity with the exception of VOD of the liver, the incidence of which is significantly more pronounced in the STBI group.