The actual benefit of intraoperative radiation therapy using 50 kV x-rays in early breast cancer: A retrospective study of 676 patients

Tumor Bed Boost Radiotherapy in the Conservative Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Review of Intra-Operative Techniques and Outcomes

Conservative surgery is the preferred treatment in the management of breast cancer followed by adjuvant whole-breast irradiation. Since the tumor bed is the main site of relapse, boost doses are conveniently administered according to risk factors for local relapse to increase the efficacy of the treatment. The benefit of a radiation boost is well established and it can be performed by several techniques like brachytherapy, external radiation or intraoperative radiotherapy. Greater precision in localizing the tumor cavity, immediacy and increased biological response are the main advantages of intraoperative boost irradiation. This modality of treatment can be performed by means of mobile electron accelerators or low-photon X-ray devices. There is a lot of research and some published series analyzing the results of the use of an intraoperative boost as an adjuvant treatment, after neoadjuvant systemic therapy and in combination with some reconstructive surgeries. This review discusses advantages of intraoperative radiotherapy and presents the main results of a boost in terms of local control, survival, tolerance and cosmesis.

Real World and Public Health Perspectives of Intraoperative Radiotherapy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Analysis Beyond the Statistical Facts

Breast conservation therapy (BCT) (usually a lumpectomy plus radiotherapy (RT)) has become a standard alternative to radical mastectomy in early-stage breast cancers with equal, if not higher, survival rates. The established standard of the RT component of the BCT had been about six weeks of Monday through Friday external beam RT to the whole breast (WBRT). Recent clinical trials have shown that partial breast radiation therapy (PBRT) to the region surrounding the lumpectomy cavity with shorter courses can result in equal local control, survival, and slightly improved cosmetic outcomes. Intraoperative RT (IORT) wherein RT is administered at the time of operation for BCT to the lumpectomy cavity as a single-fraction RT is also considered PBRT. The advantage of IORT is that weeks of RT are avoided. However, the role of IORT as part of BCT has been controversial. The extreme views go from "I will not recommend to anyone" to "I can recommend to all early-stage favorable patients." These divergent views are due to difficulty in interpreting the clinical trial results. There are two modalities of delivering IORT, namely, the use of low-energy 50 kV beams or electron beams. There are several retrospective, prospective, and two randomized clinical trials comparing IORT versus WBRT. Yet, the opinions are divided. In this paper, we try to bring clarity and consensus from a highly broad-based multidisciplinary team approach. The multidisciplinary team included breast surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, biostatisticians, public health experts, nurse practitioners, and medical oncologists. We show that there is a need to more carefully interpret and differentiate the data based on electron versus low-dose X-ray modalities; the randomized study results have to be extremely carefully dissected from biostatistical points of view; the importance of the involvement of patients and families in the decision making in a very transparent and informed manner needs to be emphasized; and the compromise some women may be willing to accept between 2-4% potential increase in local recurrence (as interpreted by some of the investigators in IORT randomized studies) versus mastectomy. We conclude that, ultimately, the choice should be that of women with detailed facts of the pros and cons of all options being presented to them from the angle of patient/family-focused care. Although the guidelines of various professional societies can be helpful, they are only guidelines. The participation of women in IORT clinical trials is still needed, and as genome-based and omics-based fine-tuning of prognostic fingerprints evolve, the current guidelines need to be revisited. Finally, the use of IORT can help rural, socioeconomically, and infrastructure-deprived populations and geographic regions as the convenience of single-fraction RT and the possibility of breast preservation are likely to encourage more women to choose BCT than mastectomy. This option can also likely lead to more women choosing to get screened for breast cancer, thus enabling the diagnosis of breast cancer at an earlier stage and improving the survival outcomes.

Calculated and measured radiation dose for the low energy xoft axxent eBT X-ray source

PURPOSE

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the functionality to deliver different prescription dose except 20 Gy for the Xoft Axxent Ebt (electronic Brachytherapy) system and analyzing the system in terms of radiation dosimetry in water and 0.9% isotonic Sodium Chloride (NaCl) solution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the Xoft Axxent eBT, different prescription dose in single fraction were calculated for different balloon applicator volumes based on source position and irradiation times. EBT-XD Gafchromic film was calibrated at 6MV photon energy. A balloon applicator filled with 0.9% isotonic NaCl solution was used to deliver a radiation dose of 20 Gy, 16 Gy, 10 Gy on the applicator surface. Then the balloon applicator was filled with water and the same measurements were repeated. Finally, the balloon applicator was irradiated by positioning it at different distances in the water phantom to simulate the isodose contour.

RESULTS

At the time the balloon applicator was filled with water and 0,9% NaCl solution, the difference between the planned dose and the absorbed dose was ~ 2% vs. 15% for 30 cc, ~ 5% vs. 14% for 35 cc and ~ 3,5% vs. 10% for 40 cc respectively. Finally, the absorbed dose at a distance of 1 cm from the applicator surface was measured as 9.63 Gy.

CONCLUSION

In this study, it was showed that different prescription dose could be possible to deliver in the Xoft Axxent eBT system based on the standard plan. In addition, the absorbed dose was higher than the planned dose depending on the effective atomic number of NaCl solution comparing to water due to photoelectric effect in low energy photons. By measuring the dose distributions at different distances from the balloon applicator surface, the absorbed dose in tissue equivalent medium was determined and the isodose contours characteristics was simulated.

Contribution of endocrine therapy in oestrogen receptor-positive pT1a-b breast cancer: Results of a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Few data have been reported regarding endocrine therapy (ET) in patients with small pT1a-b ER-postive breast cancer (BC). Thus, we conducted a study to detect possible survival improvements due to ET in such patients.

METHODS

Our retrospective observational study included 5545 patients with pT1a-b ER-positive BC treated in 15 French centres, excluding patients with HER2-positive status, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, ER-negative status, unknown pN status or in situ BC. We estimated disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) via univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression.

RESULTS

Most patients (80.3%: 4453) received ET and-when compared to those without ET-experienced increases of 2.5% and 3.3% in DFS and 1.9% and 4.3% in RFS after 5 and 7 years of follow-up, respectively, with little difference in OS. In Cox regression analysis, no ET was significantly associated with decreased DFS (hazard ratio, HR = 1.275, p = 0.047, 95% CI[1.003-1.620]) but not OS or RFS in all patients, while in 2363 patients with pT1a-b ER-positive grade 2-3 BC, no ET was significantly associated with decreased DFS (HR = 1.502, p = 0.049, 95% CI[1.001-2.252]), but not OS (HR = 1.361, p = 0.272). ET omission was not significantly associated with decreased survival in 3047 patients with pT1a-b ER-positive grade 1 BC.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that while ET provided a beneficial impact on survival to patients with pT1a-bN0 ER-positive BC-and especially in those with grade 2-3 tumours-no such impact was observed in grade 1 tumours. Consequently, ET should be discussed with these patients, particularly in those with pT1a grade 1 tumours.

Global adoption of single-shot targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) for breast cancer—better for patients, better for healthcare systems

Micro abstract

Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) is delivered immediately after lumpectomy for breast cancer. We estimated its impact. At least 44,752 patients with breast cancer were treated with TARGIT-IORT in 260 centres in 35 countries, saving >20 million miles of travel and preventing ~2,000 non–breast cancer deaths. The TARGIT-IORT website (https://targit.org.uk/travel) provides maps and tools to find the nearest centre offering TARGIT-IORT and travel savings.

Background

Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) delivers radiotherapy targeted to the fresh tumour bed exposed immediately after lumpectomy for breast cancer. TARGIT-A trial found TARGIT-IORT to be as effective as whole-breast radiotherapy, with significantly fewer deaths from non–breast cancer causes. This paper documents its worldwide impact and provides interactive tools for clinicians and patients.

Method

Centres using TARGIT-IORT provided the date of the first case and the total number of patients. We plotted these data on a customised Google Map. An interactive web-based tool provided directions to the closest centre. Using the data from the TARGIT-A trial, we estimated the total savings in travel miles, carbon footprint, and the number of non–breast cancer deaths that might be prevented.

Results

Data from 242 (93%) of the 260 centres treating patients from 35 countries were available. From the first patient treated in 1998 to early 2020, at least 44,752 women with breast cancer have been treated with TARGIT-IORT. The TARGIT-IORT website (https://targit.org.uk/travel) displays the Google Map of centres with number of cases and an interactive tool for patients to find the nearest centre offering TARGIT-IORT and their travel savings. Scaling up to the already treated patients, >20 million miles of travel would have been saved and about 2,000 deaths prevented.

Conclusion

One can ascertain the number of patients treated with a novel treatment. These data show how widely TARGIT-IORT has now been adopted and gives an indication of its beneficial worldwide impact on a large number of women with breast cancer.

Risk-Stratified Intraoperative Radiation Therapy as a Definitive Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Modality for Women With Early Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy is an integral component of adjuvant therapy in women who undergo breast conservative surgery, decreasing the likelihood of tumor recurrence and extending survival. The likelihood of tumor recurrence is highest within a proximity of the lumpectomy cavity, which prompted the idea of partial breast irradiation in place of the usual standard-of-care treatment with external beam whole breast radiation therapy. Targeted intraoperative radiation therapy (TARGIT-A) is a multicenter trial initially developed in 1999 and designed as a randomized clinical trial comparing whole breast radiation therapy to risk-adapted intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). TARGIT-A recruited its first patient in March 2000, with the study concluding in 2012. At a median follow-up of 8.6 years, the prepathology TARGIT-A trial noted results to be noninferior to external beam radiation therapy, with no statistically significant difference in ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, mastectomy-free survival, distant disease-free survival, or breast cancer-specific mortality. These results are consistent with the majority of retrospective and prospective trials. Risk-adapted IORT, as performed in the prospective randomized TARGIT-A trial, gives level 1 evidence that this approach is a standard option in the treatment of breast cancer.

Does coffee, tea and caffeine consumption reduce the risk of incident breast cancer? A systematic review and network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the association between coffee and/or tea consumption and breast cancer (BC) risk among premenopausal and postmenopausal women and to conduct a network meta-analysis.

DESIGN

Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

SETTING

We conducted a systematic review of electronic publications in the last 30 years to identify case-control studies or prospective cohort studies that evaluated the effects of coffee and tea intake.

RESULTS

Forty-five studies that included more than 3 323 288 participants were eligible for analysis. Network meta-analysis was performed to determine the effects of coffee and/or tea consumption on reducing BC risk in a dose-dependent manner and differences in coffee/tea type, menopause status, hormone receptor and the BMI in subgroup and meta-regression analyses. According to the first pairwise meta-analysis, low-dose coffee intake and high-dose tea intake may exhibit efficacy in preventing ER(estrogen receptor)- BC, particularly in postmenopausal women. Then, we performed another pairwise and network meta-analysis and determined that the recommended daily doses were 2-3 cups/d of coffee or ≥5 cups/d of tea, which contained a high concentration of caffeine, particularly in postmenopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS

Coffee and tea consumption is not associated with a reduction in the overall BC risk in postmenopausal women and is associated with a potentially lower risk of ER- BC. And the highest recommended dose is 2-3 cups of coffee/d or ≥5 cups of tea/d. They are potentially useful dietary protectants for preventing BC.