TITLE:
Hypofractionated versus Conventionally Fractionated Radiotherapy in Post-Mastectomy Breast Cancer Patients
AUTHORS:
Fatma M. F. Akl, Ashraf Khater
KEYWORDS:
Breast Cancer, Adjuvant Radiotherapy, Hypofractionation, Conventional Fractionation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.9 No.11,
November
29,
2018
ABSTRACT: Background & Objective: Hypofractionation has been used in curative setting in breast
conservative surgery, but still no adequate information about its application
in the adjuvant setting after mastectomy in breast cancer patients. The aim of
this trial was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of hypofractionation
radiotherapy (40 Gy in 15 fractions) in post mastectomy breast cancer patients
and to compare these results with those of post mastectomy patients treated
retrospectively by conventional radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions) as regard
overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), locoregional disease free
survival (LDFS), and toxicities. Patients & Methods: One hundred post mastectomy breast cancer patients were included into
this study, they were divided into 2 groups, the 1st included 50 patients
treated prospectively with hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen (40 Gy in 15
fractions), and the 2nd (control group) included 50 patients treated retrospectively with
conventionally fractionated radiotherapy regimen (50 Gy in 25 fractions). Results: The 2 year overall survival were 96% & 94% respectively (p = 0.7), while
the disease free survival were 91% & 89.8%, respectively (p = 0.9), and the
LDFS were 95.8% & 93.3%, respectively (p = 0.9), G1 acute dermatitis was
observed in 22 (44%) & 25 (50%) patients in group I & II respectively,
G2 in 8 (16%) & 10
(20%) patients respectively, no G4
skin toxicity was detected. Radiation pneumonitis was observed in 2 patients
(4%) only in group II. Conclusion: post-mastectomy hypofractionated
radiation therapy achieved comparable survival and toxicity to the
conventionally fractionated radiotherapy with the advantage of reducing overall
treatment time, treatment burden & cost.