title: Evidence based whole breast hypo-fractionated radiation therapy in patients with early breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of hypo-fractionated whole breast radiation therapy in patients with early breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searching electronically PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register we made a comprehensive literature review regarding the randomized controlled phase III trials for hypo-fractionated radiation therapy in early breast cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The collected and analyzed data showed that a short course of hypo-fractionated radiation therapy in early breast cancer patients is as effective as the conventional long course regarding tumor response as well as long term side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More data are needed about the usage and integration of a boost treatment for higher-risk women receiving neo-adjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy, or the results in special subgroups such as women with large breast size.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Therapy Department, "Saint Savvas" Anticancer Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koukourakis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zacharias
authors.forename: Aristides
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petridis
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic