Late normal tissue effects in the arm and shoulder following lymphatic radiotherapy: Results from the UK START (Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy) trials.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Adjuvant lymphatic radiotherapy (LNRT) is recommended for selected axillary node positive women with early breast cancer. We investigated whether hypofractionated LNRT is safe combined with similarly-hypofractionated breast/chest wall radiotherapy (RT).

Material and methods

The Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy (START) pilot, A and B trials randomised women with early breast cancer to schedules of 2.67-3.3 Gy versus 2.0 Gy fractions (control). RT adverse effects were assessed by patients using the EORTC QLQ-BR23 and protocol-specific questions, and by physicians. Rates of arm/shoulder effects were compared between schedules for patients given LNRT.

Results

864/5861 (14.7%) patients received LNRT (385 START-pilot, 318 START-A, 161 START-B).

SUBMITTER: Haviland JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5807031 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature