• Research blog
Monday, 05. May 2025

Palliative Radiotherapy Near the End of Life : An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Administration of Radiotherapy in Advanced Tumor Disease

Recent Publication


 

A recent study investigated why some cancer patients receive radiotherapy shortly before their death. Out of 684 deceased patients, 164 received such treatment, many of them in the last 30 days of their lives. Younger people, people with lung cancer or very advanced disease were particularly common. They often only received radiotherapy for a few days, which puts less strain on the body but is also less likely to be effective. The results show how difficult decisions are in this last phase of life - and how important it is to cater to patients' individual needs.

Le, N.-S., Zeybek, A., Hackner, K., Gallauner, C., Singer, J., Schragel, F., Georg, P., Gottsauner-Wolf, S., Pecherstorfer, M., & Kreye, G. (2025). Palliative Radiotherapy Near the End of Life: An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Administration of Radiotherapy in Advanced Tumor Disease. JCO Global Oncology, 11, e2400500. Article e2400500. https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-24-00500

OA Clin. Ass. Prof. DDr. Klaus Hackner MSc

Division of Pneumology (University Hospital Krems)

Prim. Clin. Assoc. Prof. PD Dr. Josef Singer MBA PhD

Division of Internal Medicine 2 (University Hospital Krems)

Prim. Clin. Assoc. Prof. PD Dr. Petra Georg MBA

Division of Radiotherapy - Radiation Oncology (University Hospital Krems)

OA Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Pecherstorfer

Division of Internal Medicine 2 (University Hospital Krems)