[Is timing important in adjuvant radiotherapy?].
The timing of adjuvant radiotherapy is subject of debate at clinical and administrative levels and of concern for the treating physician and also the patient. There is a lack of prospective randomized studies dealing with this point and it is highly unlikely that they could be carried on. However there is evidence coming from the laboratory and retrospective clinical studies which could be of help. Data from the laboratory tell us that the Tpot (potential doubling time) of a solid tumor is brief, which means that a tumor can grow easily while the patient waits for treatment. This means that will be an increase in the risk of local and distant relapse. Clinical evidence coming from studies of head and neck cancer, breast cancer and small cell lung cancer suggest that delay should be limited only to a few weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
radiotherapy should be started as soon as possible.
Ramón Baeza
M
M
Departamento de Radioterapia, Instituto de Radiomedicina IRAM, Santiago de Chile.
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D013997:Time Factors