In a nutshell
This study investigated whether radiotherapy with lumpectomy (where only part of the breast is removed) in older women with estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer would improve survival rates. For women over 70 years with ER- early-stage breast cancer, lumpectomy and radiotherapy improved overall survival rates and cancer-specific survival rates compared to lumpectomy alone.
Some background
Radiation therapy following lumpectomy is common in younger breast cancer patients. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of radiation therapy in older patients, particularly those with estrogen receptor negative (ER-, not dependent on the hormone estrogen for growth) cancers. It is not clear whether radiation therapy following lumpectomy would benefit patients over 70 years of age.
Methods & findings
This study investigated the effectiveness of radiation therapy after lumpectomy, compared with lumpectomy alone. 3,685 patients received lumpectomy plus radiation therapy, and 1,493 patients received only lumpectomy. All patients were over the age of 70, with early-stage, ER- breast cancer.
Patients who received radiation therapy had 5-year survival rates of 81%, compared with 61.7% in those who did not have radiation therapy. Five-year cancer-specific survival rates were 93.1%, compared with 85% in those who did not have radiation therapy.
The bottom line
The study concluded that women over 70 years treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy for ER- early-stage breast cancer had better survival rates than those who underwent lumpectomy alone.
The fine print
This was a retrospective study with limited data.
What’s next?
Published By :
Clinical Breast Cancer
Date :
Jun 23, 2016
