Abbreviated Radiation Course Effective in Early Breast Cancer

New research states that patients with early node-positive breast cancer can receive a lower total dose with fewer fractions without increased risk of recurrence. The findings were presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago June 3.

The study consisted of treating more than 2,000 women in England with breast cancer according to three protocols: one group received the standard regimen of 50 Gy over five weeks; a second group received 41.6 Gy in 13 fractions of 3.2 Gy over a five-week course and the third group received 13 fractions of 3 Gy over five weeks for a total of 39 Gy.

The researchers noted that cancer control was similar in all three groups. They also suggested that radiation oncologists consider conducting further studies of fractions in doses less than 2Gy and allowing intensity adjustments for some individual patients.

The study appears in the June 2007 supplement issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.