Recurrence Rate of Omission of Radiation Therapy in Women with Breast Cancer Older Than 70 Years

  • Previous studies evaluating the omission of radiation therapy following breast-conserving surgery:
    • Found rates of local recurrence to be significantly higher
  • The CALGB 9343 study:
    • Evaluated women 70 years or older with T1N0 estrogen positive cancers undergoing breast-conserving surgery with tamoxifen and randomized women to radiation or no radiation:
      • At 10 years, the omission of radiation therapy increased the rate of local recurrence:
        • 10% vs. 2% with no difference in overall survival noted
  • References
    • Fyles AW, McCready DR, Manchul LA, et al. Tamoxifen with or without breast irradiation in women 50 years of age or older with early breast cancer. N Engl J Med.2004;351(10):963-970.
    • Fisher B, Bryant J, Dignam JJ, et al. Tamoxifen, radiation therapy, or both for prevention of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after lumpectomy in women with invasive breast cancers of one centimeter or less. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20(2):4141-4149.
    • Hughes KS, Schnaper LA, Bellon JR, et al. Lumpectomy plus tamoxifen with or without irradiation in women age 70 years or older with early breast cancer: long-term follow-up of CALGB 9343. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(19):2382-2387.

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