Phase III trial of concurrent or sequential adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after conservative surgery for early-stage breast cancer: final results of the ARCOSEIN trial.
OBJECTIVE
In 1996, we initiated the French multicenter phase III randomized trial to compare the effect on disease-free survival (DFS) of concurrent versus sequential chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery for stages I and II breast cancer. This report presents the clinical results with a median follow-up of 60 months.


METHODS
Between February 1996 and April 2000, 716 patients were entered onto this trial. Adjuvant treatment began within 6 weeks after surgery. Sequential treatment of CT administered first followed by RT was compared with concurrent treatment of CT administered with RT. The CT regimen consisted of mitoxantrone (12 mg/m2), fluorouracil (500 mg/m2), and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2) on day 1, and it was repeated every 21 days for six courses. RT was delivered to the breast and, when indicated, to the regional lymphatics.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in treatment in the 5-year DFS (80% in both groups; P = .83), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS; 92% in sequential v 95% in concurrent; P = .76), metastasis-free survival (87% in sequential v 84% in concurrent; P = .55), or overall survival (90% in sequential v 91% in concurrent; P = .76). Nevertheless, in the node-positive subgroup, the 5-year LRFS was statistically better in the concurrent arm (97% in concurrent v 91% in sequential; P = .02), corresponding to a risk of locoregional recurrence decreased by 39% (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.93).


CONCLUSIONS
This treatment protocol remains an appealing clinical option for many women with operable breast cancer at a high risk of recurrence. Combination treatments with new drugs for breast cancer are warranted.
Toledano
Alain
A
Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Kaplan, Hôpital Bretonneau, Tours, France. alain.toledano@gmail.com
Azria
David
D
Garaud
Pascal
P
Fourquet
Alain
A
Serin
Daniel
D
Bosset
Jean-François
JF
Miny-Buffet
Joelle
J
Favre
Anne
A
Le Floch
Olivier
O
Calais
Gilles
G
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D005472:Fluorouracil