Increased use of regional radiotherapy is associated with improved outcome in a population-based cohort of women with breast cancer with 1-3 positive nodes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine use of and outcomes from adjuvant locoregional radiotherapy (LRRT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for women with breast cancer with 1-3 positive nodes (1-3N+) before and after the 1997 publication of randomised trial evidence of a survival advantage from post-mastectomy LRRT.


METHODS
Data were analysed for 2768 women diagnosed between 1989 and 2005 and referred to the British Columbia Cancer Agency with newly diagnosed pT1-3 breast cancer with 1-3N+, treated with BCS and RT. LRRT use was analysed over time. Ten-year Kaplan-Meier locoregional control (LRC), breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) curves were compared using the log-rank test. Cox regression modeling of LRC and BCSS were performed.


RESULTS
LRRT use in patients with 1-3N+ increased from 23% before 1997 to 57% after 1997. LRRT was associated with significant improvements in LRC, but not in DRFS, BCSS, or OS. 10--year LRC was 89% with local RT alone and 93% with LRRT (p=0.006). On multivariable analysis, LRRT was associated with improved LRC compared to local RT alone (HR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.40-0.77), but not with significant BCSS differences. Margin status, grade, % positive nodes, and hormonal therapy were significant predictors for LRC, while tumour size, grade, % positive nodes, and hormonal therapy significantly affected BCSS.


CONCLUSIONS
Post-BCS LRRT use in British Columbia increased almost threefold in patients with 1-3N+ after 1997. Adjuvant LRRT was associated with improved LRC, but not with improved BCSS compared to breast RT alone.
Wai
Elaine S
ES
BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island Centre, Radiation Therapy Program, Canada. ewai@bccancer.bc.ca
Lesperance
Mary
M
Speers
Caroline H
CH
Truong
Pauline T
PT
Jones
Stuart
S
Tyldesley
Scott
S
Olivotto
Ivo A
IA
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D001955:British Columbia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome