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Using a concentrated, highly targeted dose of radiation to thebreast has equally good results as irradiating the whole area, withno adverse effects on survival and a much better cosmetic outcome,Hungarian researchers have found. Reporting the ten-year results ofa randomised trial, Professor Csaba Polgar, MD, Director of theCentre for Radiotherapy, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest,told the World Congress of Brachytherapy [1 & 2] that he believesthat accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) could be offeredto many more breast cancer patients, resulting in fewer side effects and major cost savingsto healthcare systems. The Budapest trial was the first randomised study to compare theefficacy and side effects of conventional whole breast irradiationwith APBI using multicatheter brachytherapy. This techniqueconsists of inserting multiple plastic catheters into the tumourbed after breast conserving surgery. The catheters are insertedunder local or general anaesthesia, according to the wishes of thepatient. The radiation source is then loaded into them to deliver ahighly concentrated dose to the precise region of the excisedtumour - the region most likely to develop a local recurrence ofthe cancer . Using APBI means that the major part of the healthy breast tissuedoes not receive radiation. "In a group of 258 women who had had breast-conserving surgery, wefound that, at a median follow-up time of just over ten years, therate of local recurrence - the cancer coming back in the same place- was 5.9% in the APBI group and 5.1% in the group who receivedwhole breast irradiation," says Professor Polg r. "There was nosignificant difference in overall survival, cancer-specificsurvival, and disease free survival between the two groups.However, the differences in cosmetic outcome were striking - 81% inthe APBI group had good-to-excellent results as opposed to 63% ofthose who received whole breast irradiation." A further advantage of APBI is that treatment time can beshortened. As opposed to whole breast irradiation, where a courseof treatment typically takes five weeks (five treatments per week),APBI can be carried out in four to five days. "We believe that theresults of our trial will encourage more patients to choose APBI,particularly those who may now be inclined to refuse radiotherapybecause of the logistical difficulties involved - having to travellong distances over a period of six weeks can be a major problemfor some patients," Professor Polg r will say. Fewer than 10% of early stage breast cancer patients currentlyreceive APBI in Europe, and in some countries it is stillconsidered an investigational treatment. In other parts of theworld, for example the USA, it has already been accepted intogeneral practice for the treatment of selected low-risk patients. "Our trial has shown that it is possible to use a faster and morefocused treatment without compromising survival. It is a littlelike comparing a total mastectomy with a lumpectomy - we have foundthat we can improve cosmetic outcomes, lessen side effects, andachieve greater patient satisfaction with a less invasive and morecost-effective technique. Other multi-centre trials of APBI arecurrently underway, and we believe that these are likely to givefurther support to our findings," Professor Polg r will conclude. Dr. Christine Haie-Meder, Radiation Oncologist at the InstitutGustave Roussy, Villejuif, France and chairperson of the congress,said: "We know that all the patients with breast cancer do not needwhole breast irradiation. Especially in elderly patients, thetreatment, when limited to partial breast irradiation, can besignificantly shortened. This study is important because, withinthe frame of a randomised trial with a ten-year follow-up, it showsthat in selected patients, partial breast irradiation gives as goodresults as whole breast irradiation with the same recurrence rate,but with significantly better cosmetic results." Additional References Citations. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Medical Diagnostic Tool , China Medical Disposable Products, and more. For more , please visit Medical Grade Tube today!
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