Intensity-modulated radiation therapy administered to a previously irradiated spine is effective and well-tolerated

This study sought to discern the clinical outcomes of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) administered to the spine in patients who had undergone previous radiotherapy.

A total of 81 sites of 74 patients who underwent previous radiotherapy administered to the spine or peri-spine and subsequently received IMRT for the spine were analyzed in this study. The prescribed dose of 80 Gy in a biologically effective dose (BED) of α/β = 10 (BED₁₀) was set as the planning target volume. The constraint for the spinal cord and cauda equine was D_0.1 cc ≤ 100 Gy and ≤ 150 Gy of BED for re-irradiation alone and the total irradiation dose, respectively.

The median follow-up period was 10.1 (0.9-92.1) months after re-irradiation, while the median interval from the last day of the previous radiotherapy to the time of re-irradiation was 15.6 (0.4-210.1) months. Separately, the median prescript dose of re-irradiation was 78.0 (28.0-104.9) of BED₁₀. The median survival time in this study was 13.9 months, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 53.7%, 29.3%, and 26.6%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year local control rates were 90.8%, 84.0%, and 84.0%, respectively. Neurotoxicity was observed in two of 72 treatments (2.8%) assessed after re-irradiation.

Re-irradiation for the spine using IMRT seems well-tolerated. Definitive re-irradiation can be a feasible treatment option in patients with the potential for a good prognosis.