Palliative RT in rectal cancerEfficacy of palliative radiation therapy for symptomatic rectal cancer

99 patients with symptomatic locally advanced rectal cancer who were treated with palliative radiation alone were reviewed. Dose-fractionation ranged from 18 to 54 Gy. Response rate ranged from 62.5 to 86.7%, with a median response duration ranging 4.2-5.4 months. Median survival was 6.9 months. Using a BED cut-off of 39Gy10, no dose-response relationship was found.