Simplifying post-operative radiotherapy for bone metastases

The delivery of post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) for solid tumor bone metastases is a well-established practice that aims to enhance patient outcomes following surgical intervention. Surgery for osseous metastases serves to stabilize bone, alleviate pain, reduce tumor volume, and relieve pressure on critical neurological components. Radiotherapy complements surgery by addressing residual malignant disease and cancer-induced pain. Together, they serve to improve local control, maximize functional outcomes, control pain, and improve patients' overall quality of life. Despite the prevalence of non-spine bone metastases (NSBMs) necessitating operative intervention, structured guidelines for palliative PORT are limited. This is, in part, due to a paucity of research specific to this topic. As such, a wide array of doses are deemed acceptable, leading to varied practice patterns. Conversely, there is more extensive literature available, including prospective trials, for the management of post-operative spine bone metastases (SBMs). This includes advances such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), separation surgery, and the utilization of simultaneous integrated boosts that enable evidence driven, safe dose escalation. This mini-review aims to provide a summary of the existing literature on palliative postoperative radiotherapy for both NSBMs and SBMs. By offering historical context and summarizing current evidence, this article seeks to aid clinical decision-making and highlight areas for future research to enhance treatment standardization and patient care.