Long-term data support hypofractionated radiotherapy after primary surgery for early breast cancer.
Despite the convenience and potential cost-savings of shorter courses of adjuvant breast cancer radiation, concerns about this approach have focused on long-term local control and cosmesis. Prior trials have allayed these fears to some degree, but most U.S. clinicians have been cautious about adopting shorter radiation courses, citing inadequate long-term follow-up as the primary concern. Now, U.K. investigators report long-term results of the randomized, controlled, Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy trials (START-A and START-B), which evaluated various doses and schedules of postoperative breast radiation in women with completely excised invasive breast cancer.
In START-A, 2236 patients were randomized to 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 w…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/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)
DisclosuresConsultant/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)