Mature Local Control and Reirradiation Rates Comparing Spine Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy to Conventional Palliative External Beam Radiotherapy

Abstract

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) improves complete pain response for painful spinal metastases compared to conventional external beam radiotherapy (cEBRT). We report mature local control and reirradiation rates in a large cohort of patients treated with SBRT vs. cEBRT enrolled previously in the Canadian Clinical Trials Group Symptom Control (SC).24 phase II/III trial. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> 137/229 (60%) patients randomized to 24 Gy in 2 SBRT fractions or 20 Gy in 5 cEBRT fractions were retrospectively reviewed. By including all treated spinal segments, we report on 66 patients (119 spine segments) treated with SBRT, and 71 patients (169 segments) treated with cEBRT. The primary outcomes were MR-based local control and reirradiation rates for each treated spine segment. <h3>Results</h3> The median follow-up was 11.3 months (IQR:5.3-27.7 months), and median OS in the SBRT and cEBRT cohorts were 21.6 and 18.9 months (p=0.428), respectively. The cohorts were balanced with respect to radioresistant histology and presence of "Mass" (paraspinal and/or epidural disease extension). Risk of local failure after SBRT vs. cEBRT at 6, 12 and 24 months were 2.8% vs. 11.2%, 6.1% vs. 28.4% and 14.8% vs. 35.6%, respectively (p<0.001). cEBRT (HR:3.48, 95%CI:1.94-6.25, p<0.001) and presence of "Mass" (HR:2.07, 95%CI:1.29-3.31, p=0.002) independently predicted local failure on multivariable analysis. The 1-year reirradiation rates and median times to reirradiation after SBRT vs. cEBRT, were 2.2% vs 15.8% (p=0.002) and 22.9 months vs. 9.5 months respectively. Radioresistant histology (HR:2.66, 95%CI:1.43-4.94, p=0.002) and cEBRT (HR:2.34, 95%CI:1.14-4.78, p=0.002) independently predicted for reirradiation. 8/12 iatrogenic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) were after SBRT and 4/12 after cEBRT; Grade 3 toxicities were isolated to the SBRT cohort (5/12). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Risk of local failure and reirradiation is lower with SBRT compared to cEBRT for spinal metastases. Although the iatrogenic VCF rates were within expectations, Grade 3 VCF were isolated to the SBRT cohort.