[Randomized trial on adjuvant radiotherapy for postoperative breast cancer: a 15 year experience].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long term effects of adjuvant radiotherapy for postoperative breast cancer.


METHODS
From 1985 to 1986, 162 patients with operable breast cancer were randomly given adjuvant radiotherapy according to clinical stage and involving condition of axillary lymph nodes (LN). The radiotherapy group (RG) was irradiated in the supraclavicular area and/or internal mammary area to 50 Gy, while the control group (CG) was not.


RESULTS
The overall 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates of the RG were 72.0%, 56.1% and 54.3%, while they were 66.3%, 51.3% and 49.4% in the CG (P > 0.05). Clinical stage I-IIIa and positive or negative LN showed no significant difference in the two groups. But in patients with LN(+) > or = 4, the 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates of the RG were 55.6%, 38.9% and 37.1%, which were higher than the CG of 29.0%, 16.1% and 16.1% (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Adjuvant radiotherapy can improve the prognosis for breast cancer patients with LN(+) > or = 4, but not for LN(-).
Shi
Song-kui
SK
Department of Breast, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, China.
Lang
Yi-fang
YF
Li
Rui-ying
RY
Fang
Zhi-yi
ZY
Ning
Lian-sheng
LS
Ma
Shu-zi
SZ
Li
Yun-ying
YY
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate