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Hypofractionated radiotherapy for breast cancer patients treated by breast-conserving surgery: short-term morbidity and preliminary results

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Abstract

Background

Hypofractionated adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in breast cancer patients treated by conservative surgery has been increasingly used in recent years. We present our experience regarding tolerance/acute toxicity of a hypofractionated RT schedule.

Methods and materials

We report on 339 patients treated for 4 years (March 2003–2007) by 42.5 Gy/16 fractions at the RT Department of Larissa University Hospital. Electron boost of 9–10 Gy/3–4 fractions was given to 104/339 (31%). Axillary/supraclavicular RT was given to the node-positive patients with the same fractionation schedule. Median follow-up time was 24 months.

Results

RTOG grades 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 for acute skin toxicity were 9.7, 68.7, 17.5, 4, and 0.3%, respectively. Radiation pneumonitis (resolved promptly by steroids) was suspected/diagnosed in 11/339 (3.2%). A total of 8/11 had been treated by regional lymphatics RT. In the univariate analysis, the following variables were examined as predictive of skin (grade >1) and lung (any grade) reactions: age, chemotherapy, endocrine treatment, RT of regional lymphatics, and boost RT. The only significant correlation was that of radiation pneumonitis and RT of regional lymphatics (Fisher’s exact test, P = 0.000).

Conclusion

Our current results are similar to those from other centers, although they need to be evaluated for a longer time. This fractionation seems to be effective with acceptable side effects, while it facilitates the treatment for both patients and RT centers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, UK

    Georgios A. Plataniotis & Maria-Aikaterini Theofanopoulou

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece

    Konstantinia Sotiriadou & Georgios Kyrgias

Authors
  1. Georgios A. Plataniotis
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  2. Maria-Aikaterini Theofanopoulou
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  3. Konstantinia Sotiriadou
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  4. Georgios Kyrgias
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgios A. Plataniotis.

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Plataniotis, G.A., Theofanopoulou, MA., Sotiriadou, K. et al. Hypofractionated radiotherapy for breast cancer patients treated by breast-conserving surgery: short-term morbidity and preliminary results. Breast Cancer 17, 42–47 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-009-0102-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-009-0102-3

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