Safely Omitting Breast Radiation Therapy

Some women aged 55 and older with early-stage breast cancer may omit radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery.

Breast radiation to reduce risk of local recurrence has been a standard of care for women undergoing breast conserving surgery for invasive cancer. Certain subsets of patients, including older women, have been identified who may be able to avoid radiation therapy, with no compromise in overall outcome (NEJM JW Oncol Hematol Feb 12 2023 and N Engl J Med 2023; 388:585). Another approach being explored is identifying molecular subsets of breast cancer that may not require radiation therapy in the setting of breast conservation.

The LUMINA prospective cohort study enrolled 500 women ≥55 years old with T1N0, luminal A-subtype breast cancer who had undergone breast-conserving surgery. Patients received adjuvant endocrine therapy with no radiation …

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)