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Outcome After Radiotherapy Alone for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression in Patients With Oligometastases

Dirk Rades, Theo Veninga, Lukas J.A. Stalpers, Hiba Basic, Volker Rudat, Johann H. Karstens, Juergen Dunst, Steven E. Schild

From the Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Bernard Verbeeten Institute, Tilburg; Department of Radiation Oncology, St Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum; Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department of Radiotherapy, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; and the Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ

Address reprint requests to Dirk Rades, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Luebeck, Germany; e-mail: Rades.Dirk{at}gmx.net

Purpose: To investigate outcome and prognosis of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) patients with oligometastatic disease treated with radiotherapy alone.

Patients and Methods: Oligometastatic disease was defined as involvement of three or fewer vertebrae and lack of other bone or visceral metastases. Five hundred twenty-one patients with oligometastatic disease and MSCC were evaluated for functional outcome, ambulatory status, local control of MSCC, and survival. Furthermore, seven potential prognostic factors were investigated.

Results: Motor function improved in 40% (n = 207), remained stable in 54% (n = 279), and deteriorated in 7% (n = 35) of patients. Fifty-eight (54%) of 107 nonambulatory patients became ambulatory, and 388 (94%) of 414 ambulatory patients remained ambulatory. Improved functional outcome was significantly associated with tumor type and slower development of motor deficits (> 14 days). Local control at 1, 2, and 3 years was 92%, 88%, and 78%, respectively. Improved local control was significantly associated with long-course radiotherapy. Survival at 1, 2, and 3 years was 71%, 58%, and 50%, respectively. Better survival was significantly associated with tumor type, ambulatory status, slower development of motor deficits, and long-course radiotherapy. Patients who developed motor deficits slowly (onset > 14 days before initiating treatment) were further analyzed. In this subgroup, the best results were observed for myeloma/lymphoma and breast cancer patients. No patient had progression of motor deficits. One hundred percent (myeloma/lymphoma) and 99% (breast cancer) of patients were ambulatory after radiotherapy. One-year local control was 100% and 98%, 1-year survival was 94% and 89%.

Conclusion: Given the limitations of a retrospective review, improved outcome of patients with oligometastatic MSCC was associated with myeloma/lymphoma and breast cancer, slower development of motor deficits, and a more prolonged course of radiation.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.

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