Table 3.
Randomized trials that compared multi-fraction short-course to long-course radiotherapy
| Trial | Overall pain response | Complete pain relief | Re-irradiation rate | Pathological fracture rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tong et al., 1982 (n = 146) [13] | ||||
| [single metastasis] | 82% | 53% | not stated | 4% |
| 5 × 4 Gy | 85% | 61% | not stated | 18% |
| 15 × 2.7 Gy | (p = 0.82) | (p = 0.42) | (p = 0.02) | |
| Breast cancer patients: not stated | ||||
| Tong et al., 1982 (n = 613) [13] | ||||
| [multiple metastases] | 85% | 49% | not stated | 5% |
| 5 × 3 Gy | 83% | 56% | not stated | 7% |
| 5 × 4 Gy | 78% | 49% | not stated | 9% |
| 5 × 5 Gy | 87% | 57% | not stated | 8% |
| 10 × 3 Gy | (p = 0.16) | (p = 0.26) | (p > 0.05) | |
| Breast cancer patients: not stated | ||||
| Okawa et al., 1988 (n = 80) [15] | ||||
| 5 × 4.5 Gy | 75% | 40% | not stated | not stated |
| 10 × 2 Gy | 78% | 37% | not stated | not stated |
| 15 × 2 Gy | 76% | 41% | not stated | not stated |
| Breast cancer patients: n = 17 (21%) | (p > 0.05) | (p > 0.05) | ||
| Rasmusson et al., 1995 (n = 217) [10] | ||||
| 3 × 5 Gy | 69% | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| 10 × 3 Gy | 66% | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Breast cancer patients: n = 217 (100%) | (p > 0.05) | |||
| Niewald et al., 1996 (n = 100) [9] | ||||
| 5 × 4 Gy | 77% | 33% | 2% | 8% |
| 15 × 2 Gy | 86% | 31% | 2% | 12% |
| Breast cancer patients: n = 43 (43%) | (p > 0.05) | (p > 0.05) | (p > 0.05) | (p > 0.05) |