The efficacy of delayed radiotherapy for locoregionally recurrent postmastectomy breast cancer.
Using the results from a randomized controlled trial of patients with operable breast cancer (aimed at assessing the need for immediate postmastectomy radiotherapy in patients with no histological evidence of nodal involvement on subpectoral node biopsy), it has been possible to study the effectiveness of salvage radiotherapy for recurrences in the group of patients who had not received postoperative radiotherapy. While only 1 of 43 patients (2.3%) showed progressive disease, there was a further in-field relapse in 16 of the remaining 42 patients (38%). Four of these patients were salvaged by systemic therapy. Ultimately, therefore, there was failure of delayed radiotherapy for locoregional control in 30% of patients. (However, the overall locoregional control in both arms of the trial was identical).
Rodger
A
A
Department of Clinical Oncology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Stewart
H J
HJ
White
G K
GK
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging