title: Accelerated hyperfractionation of radiotherapy for rapidly growing inoperable breast cancer unresponsive to chemotherapy.
abstract: Eleven patients with rapidly growing inoperable breast carcinoma were treated with a thrice-a-day fractionation of 1.2 Gy per fraction (5-h intervals, 15 fractions per week). Nine of them had been considered as non-responders to previous aggressive multidrug chemotherapy. A split of 2 weeks was inserted after 54 Gy, and radiation fields were then restricted to the clinical positive area up to a total tumor dose of 90 Gy. Nine of 11 patients completed their treatment, and 7 of them were considered as complete responders. Acute toxicity was surprisingly low (grade I-II). Four patients surviving 12-18 months after radiotherapy did not relapse and did not present any late complications. A favorably improved quality of life was obtained for all 9 patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hellenic Anticancer Institute, St. Savvas Hospital, Leoforos Alexandras Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koukourakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sotiropoulou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zambatis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scarlatos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage