Department of Medical Oncology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Research Article
Low-Dose Palliative Chemotherapy Compared to Standard-Dose Chemotherapy for Poor-Prognosis Cancers Improves Overall Survival - A Single Institution Retrospective Study
Author(s): Andrew Dind, Rebecca Kannourakis, George Kannourakis* and Jarmila Sterbova
Background: Palliative oncology is a balance between maximising quality and quantity of life. Whilst aggressive
chemotherapy is associated with severe side effects, low-dose chemotherapy now plays a role in treating many
advanced malignancies with palliative intent. There is a need to compare the survival of patients receiving low-dose
with standard-dose chemotherapy.
Methods: Data collected from Ballarat Oncology and Haematology Services (BOHS) records was retrospectively
assessed for patients diagnosed between 2004-2010 with advanced ovarian, lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancers.
166 patients were assessed for their chemotherapy doses, classed as low-dose chemotherapy (n=69) or standard-dose
chemotherapy (n=97). Survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the difference between the groups
assessed using lo.. View more»