Women 40 years and younger with early-stage breast cancer who receive an additional high dose of radiation (boost dose) after undergoing breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) and standard radiation therapy are almost twice as likely to be free of cancer 10 years after therapy in comparison to those who dont receive the boost dose, as per a large European study presented at the Plenary I session on October 29, 2007, at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncologys 49th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. Eventhough younger women benefitted most from an extra dose of radiation, the findings show that women of all ages who had a boost dose of radiation after standard therapy were more likely to be cancer-free over a 10-year period.

The study involved 5,318 women who underwent lumpectomies and whole breast radiation therapy as part of their breast conserving treatment for Stage I and Stage II breast cancer and were reviewed 10 years later. Scientists wanted to determine if a boost dose of radiation following this therapy would decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence. In addition to this, a sub-group of 1,725 patients were reviewed to find out the highest risk factors for localized breast cancer recurrence.

The study observed that the largest benefits of the boost dose of radiation after standard breast conserving therapy is seen in young women, who have a higher risk to breast cancer recurrence to begin with, said Harry Bartelink, M.D., Ph.D., the senior author of the study and professor and radiation oncologist at The Netherlands Cancer Institute at Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in The Netherlands.

For patients with early stage breast cancer, the current standard therapy involves breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy), followed by radiation treatment to the breast over a six to eight week period to kill any remaining cancer cells. In this study, an additional boost of high-dose radiation was given after conventional radiation treatment to the lumpectomy site where the tumor was removed to potentially increase the chances of a cure.

With a lumpectomy, the surgeon removes the tumor, along with nearby healthy tissue. If the outside of the tumor, or margin, has cancer cells present, then its considered a positive margin. If its unclear, or a very small distance, then doctors call it a close margin. Women who have positive and close surgical margins are at a higher risk of breast cancer returning, in comparison to those who have negative margins that are free of cancer.

The study also observed that early-stage patients with breast cancer who were at a younger age are most likely to have their cancer come back (recurrence), especially those who have positive surgical margins. This study and prior ones have shown that young patients with early-stage breast cancer have a higher risk of breast recurrence, in comparison to older patients because their cancer tends to be more aggressive.


Posted by: Betsy    Source

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