title: Accelerated partial breast irradiation as part of breast conserving therapy of early breast carcinoma: a systematic review.
abstract: New strategies for adjuvant radiotherapy of early breast cancer are being investigated in several phase III randomised trials at the present time. Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is a way to offer an early breast cancer patient, who has had breast conservative surgery, an adjuvant radiotherapy of short duration aimed at the tumour bed with a certain margin. The rationale of this strategy is that most local recurrences appear close to the tumorectomy cavity and a wish to spare the patient late radiation morbidity. This review discusses the background for APBI, the different techniques, and we highlight possible pitfalls using these techniques. A systematic overview of all phase I and II studies is provided. Patient selection for this therapy is pivotal and based on evidence from previous studies on patient/tumour characteristics and pattern of local recurrences we propose inclusion criteria for patients in APBI protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark. bvo@oncology.dk
authors.forename: Birgitte V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Offersen
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Overgaard
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kroman
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Overgaard
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal; D012307:Risk Factors