PURPOSE

Bleeding from unresectable gastric cancer is a localized condition that adversely affects quality of life. Radiotherapy can be used to treat gastric cancer bleeding when surgery, endoscopic treatment, and intravascular embolization are ineffective. This study evaluated the utility of radiotherapy for unresectable hemorrhagic gastric cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from 33 patients with gastric cancer bleeding who underwent palliative radiotherapy in our hospital between April 2013 and May 2020. In this study, successful hemostasis was defined as > 1 month after starting radiotherapy with the patient alive and showing no need for blood transfusion, no drop in hemoglobin, and no evidence of melena or hematemesis.

RESULTS

Patients comprised 26 men (79%) and 7 women (21%), with a median age of 71 years (range, 41-78 years). Hemostasis was achieved in 24 patients (73%). Thirty-two patients (94%) have been discharged home or transferred to the hospice. Patients with successful hemostasis from radiotherapy showed significantly longer overall survival than patients with unsuccessful hemostasis (p = 0.0026). No toxicities of grade 2 or more were encountered.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study found that palliative radiotherapy for gastric cancer bleeding was useful and safe and can improve remaining quality of life in patients with poor prognosis.