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IMRT showed fewer adverse effects than standard radiotherapy
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Intensity-modulated radiotherapy reduced adverse effects of radiation in patients with early breast cancer, according to results presented at the 2nd forum for the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology.
IMRT is a form of radiation therapy that provides a more even dose of radiation to the breast compared with the standard 2-D radiotherapy. When the dosage of standard 2-D radiotherapy is too high in some areas, the breast can show unfavorable cosmetic adverse effects.
Researchers analyzed radiotherapy treatment plans of 1,145 patients with early breast cancer who had previously undergone breast-conserving surgery. Patients then were screened to determine who would receive an uneven dose of radiation if treated with standard 2-D radiotherapy. After screening, 71% of patients met the criteria, and those patients were randomly assigned to 2-D radiotherapy or IMRT groups.
At 5-year follow-up, fewer patients in the IMRT group developed skin telangiectasia (OR=0.58; 95% CI, 0.36-0.92) and suboptimal overall cosmesis (OR=0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.96). Patients with poor baseline surgical cosmesis were more likely to develop photographically assessed breast shrinkage (OR=1.54; 95% CI, 1.21-1.96), tumor bed induration (OR=1.8; 95% CI, 1.43-2.26) and suboptimal cosmesis (OR=8.15; 95% CI, 6.08-10.92).
“Although IMRT is employed increasingly in breast cancer, its use is far from universal throughout the world. We hope that the evidence of benefit shown in our trial will encourage its greater use, resulting in improved patient access and, ultimately, improved outcomes for breast cancer patients,” Charlotte Coles, PhD, of Addenbrooke’s Hospital Oncology Centre in Cambridge, the United Kingdom, said in a press release.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.