Simultaneous vs. Sequential Boost for Adjuvant Breast Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: During the last 10-15 years, alternative regimens for adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) of breast cancer have become more popular, including simultaneous integrated (SIB) instead of sequential boosts (SEB). We present long-term outcomes after conventional fractionation (CF) plus SIB vs. CF+SEB.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Forty-eight patients receiving CF+SIB (treatment time=5.5 weeks) were matched to 72 patients (control group) receiving CF+SEB (6.5 weeks) considering twelve characteristics. Both groups were compared for radiation dermatitis, pneumonitis, local control (LC), metastases-free survival (MFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Rates of grade ≥2 dermatitis were 35.4% (CF+SIB) and 45.8% (CF+SEB), respectively (p=0.26), and rates of grade ≥2 pneumonitis 0% and 4.2%, respectively (p=0.27). Six-year LC, MFS, CSS, and OS rates were 100% vs. 93% (p=0.11), 97% vs. 100% (p=0.29), 100% vs. 100% (p=1.00), and 98% vs. 100% (p=0.23), respectively.

CONCLUSION

CF+SIB was similar to CF+SEB in terms of toxicities and outcomes but reduces total treatment time by one week.