The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has published an updated guideline on the use of palliative radiation therapy (RT) for bone metastases.
Available as a free article in ASTRO's Practical Radiation Oncology clinical practice journal, the new guideline recommends optimal RT dosing schedules for pain relief, including options for retreatment, according to the society. ASTRO said the updated guideline is based on recent clinical trial data and underscores the safety and effectiveness of radiation treatment.
It also considers the role of advanced RT techniques such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for primary treatment and retreatment of painful bone metastases. As data are still limited on the use of SBRT for treating spinal metastases, the guideline recommends that advanced RT techniques for primary treatment or retreatment of spinal lesions only be considered in clinical trial or registry settings, ASTRO said.
