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Radiation therapy reduced risk for breast cancer recurrence
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SAN DIEGO — Radiation therapy after lumpectomy reduced the absolute risk for recurrence of breast cancer by 15% over 10 years and decreased mortality risk by 4%, according to the findings of a late- breaking study.
Researchers with the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group reviewed records from nearly 11,000 women in 17 randomized trials examining radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery.
“These studies confirm that, after a lumpectomy, radiation therapy reduces a woman’s risk of her breast cancer returning and her chances of dying of the disease,” Sarah Darby, PhD, professor of medical statistics at the Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit at Oxford University, said in a press release.
These results from the Oxford meta-analysis confirm long-term benefit with the use of radiation after lumpectomy for women with node-positive and high-risk node negative disease. A key goal in the future will be to parse out those women who truly benefit from those who do not since many women who receive lumpectomy alone do not suffer a recurrence out to 15 years. In addition, how to apply these findings to the many older women who did not participate in these trials is a critical area for inquiry because randomized clinical trials suggest that some of these older women are more likely to die of non-breast cancer related causes. Finally, much research is exploring new ways to give radiation therapy through accelerated or partial breast or intraoperative approaches.
– Nancy Davidson, MD
HemOnc Today Editorial Board member
For more information:
- Darby A. Abstract #LB2.