Effect of delayed radiation therapy on local control in breast conservation therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess local control when radiation therapy is delayed to complete chemotherapy in breast conservation therapy.


METHODS
Breast conservation therapy was performed in 310 cases in 297 patients (aged 24-85 years) with stage 0-II breast cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy was used in 76 cases. The authors analyzed the time between diagnosis and radiation therapy and correlated these findings with local control of disease.


RESULTS
The time between diagnosis and radiation therapy in the 247 cases treated without chemotherapy-related delay was 2-59 weeks (mean, 8 weeks). The interval in the 63 cases with chemotherapy-related delay was 12-63 weeks (mean, 31 weeks; P < .001). Ten of the 11 cases with an in breast relapse were in the group treated without a delay (P = .57).


CONCLUSIONS
Delaying radiation therapy for chemotherapy does not compromise local control.
Meek
A G
AG
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794-7028, USA.
Park
T L
TL
Weiss
T A
TA
Bethune
W A
WA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors