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Pattern of practice of re-irradiation for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence in Italy: a survey by the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO)

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Abstract

Purpose

The Re-irradiation and the Breast Cancer Working Groups of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) conducted a survey to provide an overview of the policies for breast cancer (BC) re-irradiation (re-RT) among the Italian radiotherapy (RT) centers.

Methods

In October 2021, 183 RT centers were invited to answer a survey: after an initial section about general aspects, the questionnaire focused on radiation oncologists’ (ROs) attitude toward re-RT in three different scenarios: ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) treated with second conservative surgery, IBTR treated with mastectomy and inoperable IBTR. Surveyed ROs were also asked to express their interest in being involved in a prospective trials.

Results

Seventy-seven/183 (42.0%) centers answered the Survey, only one RO per center was requested to answer. In particular, 86.5% ROs declared to have performed “curative” re-RT for IBTR during the previous two years (2019–2020): 76.7% respondents administered re-RT after second BCS, 50.9% after mastectomy, and 48.1% for inoperable IBTR. Re-RT practice varied widely among centers in terms of treatment volumes, dose and fractionation schedules, techniques and dose-volume constraints for organs at risks (OARs). Forty-six participants (59.7%) expressed their interest in participating in a prospective study investigating BC re-RT.

Conclusions

About one out of three RT centers in Italy delivered re-RT for IBTR. Nevertheless, practice of re-RT varied widely among centers highlighting the needs for prospective studies to improve knowledge in this field.

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Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Scientific Committee and Board of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) for the critical revision of the paper and final approval of the manuscript (Nr. 21/2022).

Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Oncology Unit, Department of Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Mariangela Massaccesi & Valeria Masiello

  2. Radiotherapy Department, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy

    Antonella Fontana

  3. Radiation Oncology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, University of Perugia and Perugia General Hospital, 06156, Perugia, Italy

    Isabella Palumbo

  4. Radiotherapy Department, San Pio Hospital, Benevento, Italy

    Angela Argenone

  5. Radiation Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Maria Carmen De Santis

  6. Radiation Oncology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Dental Science and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Antonio Pontoriero

  7. Radiotherapy Department, San Filippo Neri Hospital, ASL Rome 1, Rome, Italy

    Antonella Ciabattoni

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  1. Mariangela Massaccesi
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Contributions

MM and AC designed and coordinate the study and the analysis. AF, AA, MCD, VV and AP collected data. MM, AC and IP reviewed and approved data selection. MM, AC, AF and IP performed main data analysis and provided pictures elaboration. All authors drafted the article. MM, AC and IP critically revised the study and the article. All authors reviewed and approved the final article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isabella Palumbo.

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Massaccesi, M., Fontana, A., Palumbo, I. et al. Pattern of practice of re-irradiation for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence in Italy: a survey by the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO). Clin Transl Oncol 26, 644–652 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-023-03289-0

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