Benefits of combining radiotherapy with aggressive resection for stage IV gallbladder cancer

The efficacy of combining resection and radiation in the management of advanced gallbladder cancer has not yet been defined. In this study, effects of combining radiation therapy on survival, local control and the pattern of recurrences were analyzed as a retrospective review.

From October 1976 to May 1996, 85 patients with stage IV (pTNM) gallbladder cancer underwent various aggressive resection modalities in our institute, including 34 liver resections, 30 hepatopancreaticoduodenectomies. Intra-operative, external or intracavitary radiation therapy was supplemented to resection in 47 patients.

The 30-day operative mortality rate was 5.9% and the overall 5-year survival rate of stage IV disease patients was 6.3%; 3 patients are living well more than 6 years after surgery. Adjuvant radiotherapy yielded a significantly (p=0.0023) higher 5-year survival rate (8.9%) than resection alone (2.9%). The local control rate was significantly (p=0.0467) higher in the adjuvant radiation group than in the resection alone group (59.1% vs. 36.1%). However, there was no statistical difference in the frequency of distant metastasis between the two groups. Significant improvement (p=0.0028) of long-term survival was exhibited when radiation was used appropriately on patients with microscopic residues only. Those with macroscopic or without microscopic residues failed to improve. The 5-year survival rate and median survival time of patients receiving adjuvant radiation therapy for microscopic residues were 17.2% and 463 days, respectively.

Adjuvant radiation therapy following aggressive resection, in certain circumstances, improves prognosis with acceptable operative mortality for stage IV gallbladder cancer.