Prospective Study of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

• Main Authors: Benoît Bataille, Bennadji Raoudha, Florence Le Tinier, Laurent Basson, Alexandre Escande, Hélène Langin, Emmanuelle Tresch, Frederik Crop, Franck Darloy, Damien Carlier, Eric Lartigau, David Pasquier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Cancers
• Subjects: breast cancer; IMRT; tomotherapy; simultaneous integrated boost; quality of life
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/12/3852

The objective of this study was to evaluate the acute and medium-term toxicities, the quality of life, and aesthetic results of patients with breast cancer (BC) treated with tomotherapy. This was a prospective study, including patients with BC treated by tomotherapy. Radiation therapy delivered 50 Gy in 25 fractions to the breast or chest wall and to lymph node areas, with a simultaneous integrated boost at a dose of 60 Gy at the tumor bed in cases of breast conservative surgery. We included 288 patients, 168 and 120 treated with breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy respectively. Two hundred sixty patients (90.3%) received lymph node irradiation. Median follow-up was 25 months (6–48). Acute dermatitis was observed in 278 patients (96.5%), mostly grade 1 (59.7%). The aesthetic aspect of the breast at one year was reported as “good” or “excellent” in 84.6% of patients. The patients’ quality of life improved over time, especially those treated with chemotherapy. The two-year overall survival and disease-free survival were 97.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 94.1–99.2%), and 93.4% (95% CI: 89.2–96.0%) respectively. Tomotherapy for locally advanced BC has acceptable toxicity, supporting its use in this indication; however, longer follow-up is needed to assess long-term outcomes.