Phase I study of individualized stereotactic body radiotherapy of liver metastases

To report on the outcomes of a phase I study of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for treatment of liver metastases.

Patients with liver metastases that were inoperable or medically unsuitable for resection, and who were not candidates for standard therapies, were eligible for this phase I study of individualized SBRT. Individualized radiation doses were chosen to maintain the same nominal risk of radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) for three estimated risk levels (5%, 10%, and 20%). Additional patients were treated at the maximal study dose (MSD) in an expanded cohort. Median SBRT dose was 41.8 Gy (range, 27.7 to 60 Gy) in six fractions over 2 weeks.

Sixty-eight patients with inoperable colorectal (n = 40), breast (n = 12), or other (n = 16) liver metastases were treated. Median tumor volume was 75.2 mL (range, 1.19 to 3,090 mL). The highest RILD risk level investigated was safe, with no dose-limiting toxicity. Two grade 3 liver enzyme changes occurred, but no RILD or other grade 3 to 5 liver toxicity was seen, for a low estimated risk of serious liver toxicity (95% CI, 0 to 5.3%). Six (9%) acute grade 3 toxicities (two gastritis, two nausea, lethargy, and thrombocytopenia) and one (1%) grade 4 toxicity (thrombocytopenia) were seen. The 1-year local control rate was 71% (95 CI, 58% to 85%). The median overall survival was 17.6 months (95% CI, 10.4 to 38.1 months).

Individualized six-fraction liver metastases SBRT is safe, with sustained local control observed in the majority of patients.