Concurrent or Sequential Hormonal and Radiation Therapy in Breast Cancer: A Literature Review.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Adjuvant hormonal therapy is frequently used in the treatment of women with estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) positive breast cancer. When radiotherapy is given, hormone therapy may be delivered in a concurrent or sequential manner. Hormonal blockade with tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors is thought to arrest hormonally dependent cancer cells in the early G1 phase of the cell cycle. This has been theorized to reduce the efficacy of radiation, which is known to be more effective in cells that are actively dividing. Therefore, there has been a reluctance by many to treat with concurrent hormonal and radiation therapy.

Methods

We performed a search of the Medline database that led to the identification of 39 studies. Abstract and full-t

SUBMITTER: Cecchini MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4659580 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature