Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Advantages of Hypo-fractionated versus Conventional Whole-Breast Irradiation

Shaitelman et al on a paper published by JAMA Oncol report the 6-month toxic effects and quality of life (QOL) with conventionally fractionated (CF-WBI) whole-breast irradiation (WBI) vs. hypo-fractionated WBI (HF-WBI). 

Their study included 287 women 40 years or older with stage 0 to II breast cancer for whom WBI without addition of a third field was recommended.  It was conducted between February 2011 through February 2014 and the patients were observed for a minimum of 6 months. 

The study was un-blinded randomized trial of CF-WBI (n=149; 50.00 Gy/25 fractions+boost [10.00-14.00 Gy/5-7 fractions]) vs HF-WBI (n=138; 42.56 Gy/16 fractions+boost [10.00-12.50 Gy/4-5 fractions]) following breast-conserving surgery.


Of 287 participants, 149 were randomized to CF-WBI and 138 to HF-WBI. Treatment arms were well matched for baseline characteristics, including FACT-B total score (HF-WBI, 120.1 vs CF-WBI, 118.8; P=.46) and individual QOL items such as somewhat or more lack of energy (HF-WBI, 38% vs CF-WBI, 39%; P=.86) and somewhat or more trouble meeting family needs (HF-WBI, 10% vs CF-WBI, 14%; P=.54). Maximum physician-reported acute dermatitis (36% vs 69%; P<.001), pruritus (54% vs 81%; P<.001), breast pain (55% vs 74%; P=.001), hyperpigmentation (9% vs 20%; P=.002), and fatigue (9% vs 17%; P=.02) during irradiation were lower in patients randomized to HF-WBI. The rate of overall grade 2 or higher acute toxic effects was less with HF-WBI than with CF-WBI (47% vs 78%; P<.001). Six months after irradiation, physicians reported less fatigue in patients randomized to HF-WBI (0% vs 6%; P=.01), and patients randomized to HF-WBI reported less lack of energy (23% vs 39%; P<.001) and less trouble meeting family needs (3% vs 9%; P=.01). Multivariable regression confirmed the superiority of HF-WBI in terms of patient-reported lack of energy and trouble meeting family needs.

 The authors concluded that treatment with HF-WBI appears to yield lower rates of acute toxic effects than CF-WBI as well as less fatigue 6 months after completing radiation therapy.

JAMA Oncol. Published online August 06, 2015

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