Clinical Experience Using Hypofractionated Radiation Schedules in Breast Cancer

• Published in: Seminars in radiation oncology Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 257 - 264
• Main Authors: Whelan, Timothy J., BM, BCh, MSc, Kim, Do-Hoon, MD, Sussman, Jonathan, MD, CCFP, FRCP(C), MSc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2008
• Subjects: Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Dose Fractionation; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Models, Biological; Radiology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• ISSN: 1053-4296; 1532-9461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2008.04.008

Hypofractionation is attractive for whole- or partial-breast irradiation because it permits treatment to be given with fewer fractions in a shorter period of time and at less cost. A number of cohort studies suggest that hypofractionation may be given to the whole breast safely and with good local control. Recent randomized trials have confirmed that hypofractioned whole-breast irradiation is equivalent to more conventional whole-breast irradiation with respect to local recurrence and cosmetic outcome. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in hypofractionation for the delivery of partial-breast irradiation using a number of techniques including high-dose rate brachytherapy, 3-dimensional conformal radiation using external-beam techniques, and intraoperative therapy. Early cohort studies report good local control and acceptable morbidity. Randomized trials are now underway to compare this approach to conventional whole-breast irradiation.