QUAD SHOT radiotherapy for palliation in advanced cancer: current status and future directions

QUAD SHOT radiotherapy (QS-RT) is a periodic, short-course, hypo-fractionated radiotherapy regimen that originated in the 1980s. It is widely used in Europe and the United States, but less so in Asia. Many clinical studies have shown that QS-RT offers significant advantages in improving quality of life and local control and has a favorable safety profile. This article systematically reviews the origin, biological mechanisms, clinical applications, efficacy, and safety of QS-RT based on existing clinical studies, discusses its clinical advantages and limitations, and considers how to optimize future treatment plans.