Balancing Treatment Deintensification Strategies in Early Stage Breast Cancer

Several decades ago, the concept of deintensification of breast cancer treatment began with randomized trials demonstrating breast conservation therapy (BCT) was equivalent to mastectomy with respect to recurrence and survival and optimized functional outcomes and quality of life. Radiation therapy (RT) has remained a mainstay of BCT, traditionally defined as lumpectomy followed by adjuvant RT and hormone therapy (in estrogen receptor –positive patients). The rationale for incorporating adjuvant radiation is the ability to eliminate microscopic disease after lumpectomy that could otherwise manifest as a local recurrence, which can affect survival.
Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Clinical Investigation Source Type: research