Prognosis after breast recurrence following conservative surgery and radiotherapy in patients with node-negative breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Breast conservation surgery with radiotherapy is a safe and effective alternative to mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer. This retrospective study examined the outcome of patients with isolated local recurrence following conservative surgery and radiotherapy in node-negative breast cancer.


METHODS
Between November 1979 and December 1994, 503 women with node-negative breast cancer were treated by conservation surgery and radiotherapy without adjuvant systemic therapy.


RESULTS
After a median follow-up of 73 months the 5-year rate of freedom from local recurrence was 94 per cent. Thirty-five patients developed an isolated local recurrence within the breast as a first event. Thirty-three patients were treated with salvage mastectomy and two patients were treated with systemic therapy alone. The 5-year rate of freedom from second relapse was 46 per cent and the overall 5-year survival rate was 59 per cent for patients who had salvage mastectomy. Patients who developed breast recurrence as a first event had a 3.25 greater risk of developing distant metastasis (P < 0.001) than those who did not have breast recurrence as a first event.


CONCLUSIONS
Salvage mastectomy after local recurrence was an appropriate treatment if there was no evidence of distant metastasis. Breast recurrence after conservative surgery and radiotherapy in node-negative breast cancer predicted an increased risk of distant relapse.
Francis
M
M
Division of Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Cakir
B
B
Ung
O
O
Gebski
V
V
Boyages
J
J
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome