title: External radiotherapy for breast cancer in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the most common malignancy amongst elderly women and the main cause of mortality. A specific management for elderly woman is not clear because clinical trials are usually not customized for this subset of patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the available information on the main issues in the field of breast cancer radiotherapy in the elderly population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Authors discuss on different radiation treatments for breast cancer in the elderly, based on the data of the literature with a focus on new strategy: hypo-fractionation, accelerated partial breast irradiation, and the utility of a dose boost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of breast cancer is not standardized in the elderly. The optimal management in this population often requires complex multidisciplinary supportive care due to multiple comorbidities to optimize their cancer care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New options such as APBI or HyRT regimens should be taken into consideration and offered as a breach of duty to the elderly population. Furthermore, they should be extensively investigated through randomized clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: European Medical Imaging, Radiation Oncology, Fondazione Muto-onlus, Via Taverna Rossa, 169, 80020, Casavatore, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei tumori "Fondazione Giovanni Pascale", IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falivene
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Cancer, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori "Fondazione Giovanni Pascale", IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131, Naples, Italy. emanuelaexpo@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei tumori "Fondazione Giovanni Pascale", IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Franco
authors.affiliation: European Medical Imaging, Radiation Oncology, Fondazione Muto-onlus, Via Taverna Rossa, 169, 80020, Casavatore, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Cancer, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori "Fondazione Giovanni Pascale", IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Aiuto
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei tumori "Fondazione Giovanni Pascale", IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058996:Quality Improvement; D000069473:Radiation Dose Hypofractionation; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Breast cancer; Elderly; External radiation therapy; Local recurrence; Survival