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Is there a role for quad-shot or similar regimen in a patient with a technically resectable, but medically inoperable colon cancer that is both bleeding and causing a partial obstruction?

A very elderly patient who is a poor surgical candidate with a partially obstructing colonic mass that is bleeding and causing anemia.
1 Answer
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Answered on

I do not use quad shot for the palliation of gastrointestinal tumors. I do not believe in giving doses larger than 3 Gy per fraction because it uses up tolerance, and it's difficult to retreat. My strategy is to be able to treat the patient again after recovery of tolerance in a year. This usually results in local tumor control for 2 to 3 years in these patients who cannot have surgery. You could possibly give two cycles of quad shot safely, and you'd be done. For a patient whose life expectancy...

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