Chemoradiation for Bone Metastasis

Pain from bone metastases of breast cancer origin is treated with localized radiation. Modulating doses and schedules has shown little efficacy in improving results. Given the synergistic therapeutic effect reported for combined systemic chemotherapy with local radiation in anal, rectal, and head and neck malignancies, the investigators sought to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of combined capecitabine and radiation for palliation of pain due to bone metastases from breast cancer Hypothesis: Given the hypothesis that regimens employing greater intensity radiation yield higher rates of pain relief, radiosensitization using a tumor targeted drug like Xeloda should improve the rate of complete pain relief as compared to radiosensitization with 5FU alone. Primary Objective: To determine the frequency and duration of pain relief and narcotic relief for the proposed regimen. Secondary Objective: To determine the toxicity of concurrent Capecitabine and radiotherapy in breast cancer patients with bone metastases.