Comparison of patient-reported outcomes with single versus multiple fraction palliative radiotherapy for bone metastasis in a population-based cohort

Abstract Background Despite randomized control trials showing equivalent efficacy between single-fraction (SF) and multiple-fraction (MF) radiation therapy (RT) for bone metastases (BoM), considerable variation in fractionation exists. We compared patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following SF versus MF RT in a population-based cohort. Methods PROs were chosen to assess patients' perception of pain, function, and symptom frustration. Total score was the sum of the 3 questions. Results 968 patients completed pre and post-RT PROs, 35% (335) had complicated BoM. Overall, there were no differences in total score improvement (79% vs. 83%; p =0.13), nor for complicated BoM (77% vs. 84%; p =0.12), SFRT and MFRT respectively. On multivariate analysis no differences in improvement in total score were observed between SFRT and MFRT overall (OR=0.71; 95% CI 0.49–1.02; p =0.06), nor for complicated BoM (OR=0.74; 95% CI 0.39–1.39; p =0.35). In the complicated BoM subset, pain complete response (CR) (19% vs. 33%; p =0.01) and functional improvement occurred more commonly in the MFRT group (69% vs. 81%; p =0.04). Conclusion Improvements in PROs for pain, function and symptom frustration were similar between SFRT and MFRT supporting the use of hypofractionated regimens. Using a simple, 3-question, telephone-based questionnaire to assess response to palliative RT is a feasible strategy to collect PROs.