Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Participants in a Study of the Effect of Single-Fraction vs Multifraction Radiotherapy on Ambulatory Status Among Patients With Spinal Canal Compression From Metastatic Cancer.
| Characteristic | No. (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Fraction Radiotherapy Group (n = 345) | Multifraction Radiotherapy Group (n = 341) | |
| Age | ||
| Median (range), y | 70 (23-96) | 70 (33-95) |
| ≥75 y | 106 (31) | 119 (35) |
| Sex | ||
| Men | 255 (74) | 248 (73) |
| Women | 90 (26) | 93 (27) |
| Site of primary cancer | ||
| Prostate | 152 (44) | 152 (45) |
| Lung | 66 (19) | 66 (19) |
| Breast | 39 (11) | 40 (12) |
| Gastrointestinal | 35 (10) | 38 (11) |
| Kidney | 11 (3) | 12 (4) |
| Skin | 9 (3) | 6 (2) |
| Bladder | 7 (2) | 4 (1) |
| Other (ie, gynecologic, head and neck, sarcoma, unspecified) | 26 (8) | 23 (7) |
| Nonskeletal metastases | 159 (46) | 156 (46) |
| No. of spinal cord compression sites | ||
| Single | 303 (88) | 311 (91) |
| Multiple | 42 (12) | 30 (9) |
| Location of spinal metastases | ||
| Thoracic | 232 (67) | 230 (67) |
| Lumbar | 72 (21) | 65 (19) |
| Thoracic and lumbar | 17 (5) | 16 (5) |
| Sacrum (S1 and S2) | 9 (3) | 6 (2) |
| Cervical vertebrae | 7 (2) | 10 (3) |
| Cervical and thoracic | 5 (1) | 8 (2) |
| Lumbar and sacrum | 3 (1) | 4 (1) |
| Not reported | 0 | 2 (1) |
| WHO performance statusa | (n = 343) | (n = 337) |
| 0-1 (Best) | 97 (28) | 94 (28) |
| 2 | 88 (26) | 81 (24) |
| 3 | 114 (33) | 121 (36) |
| 4 (Worst) | 44 (13) | 41 (12) |
| Ambulatory status | ||
| Grade 1 (ambulatory without the use of walking aids) | 76 (22) | 77 (23) |
| Grade 2 (ambulatory with walking aids) | 152 (44) | 146 (43) |
| Grade 3 (unable to walk) | 91 (26) | 90 (26) |
| Grade 4 (absence or flicker of motor power in any muscle group) | 26 (8) | 28 (8) |
| Treatment at baseline | (n = 344) | (n = 341) |
| None | 156 (45) | 141 (41) |
| Hormone therapy within 4 weeks of randomization | 96 (28) | 97 (28) |
| Radiotherapy within 6 mo of randomization | 36 (10) | 39 (11) |
| Chemotherapy within 4 weeks of randomization | 20 (6) | 32 (9) |
| Combination of the above treatments | 36 (10) | 32 (9) |
a
WHO performance status of 0 indicates able to carry out all normal activity without restriction; 1, restricted in strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out light work; 2, ambulatory and capable of all self-care but unable to carry out any work activities and are up and about for greater than 50% of waking hours; 3, symptomatic and in a chair or in bed for greater than 50% of the day but not bedridden; and 4, completely disabled, cannot carry out any self-care, and totally confined to bed or chair.