» Articles » PMID: 35117964

Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Low-risk Early Breast Cancer in Elderly Women: Evidence from Randomized Trials

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer pathology in women in the Western world. The median age at diagnosis is 60 years and in the coming decades it is estimated that the number of elderly women affected reaches an important percentage. This aging of the cancer population, associated with its inherent comorbidities and aggravated by the lack of consensus about the most appropriate treatment, make it difficult to administer an effective postoperative treatment in elderly women with a low-risk profile. An exhaustive geriatric evaluation is a sine qua non condition to opt for a specific type of treatment. To date, several options are available such as endocrine therapy (ET) alone, moderate/high hypofractionation and various accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) techniques. In this article, we provide information about each of them.

References
1.
Darby S, McGale P, Correa C, Taylor C, Arriagada R, Clarke M . Effect of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery on 10-year recurrence and 15-year breast cancer death: meta-analysis of individual patient data for 10,801 women in 17 randomised trials. Lancet. 2011; 378(9804):1707-16. PMC: 3254252. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61629-2. View

2.
Sattar S, Alibhai S, Wildiers H, Puts M . How to implement a geriatric assessment in your clinical practice. Oncologist. 2014; 19(10):1056-68. PMC: 4200997. DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2014-0180. View

3.
Coombes R, Hall E, Gibson L, Paridaens R, Jassem J, Delozier T . A randomized trial of exemestane after two to three years of tamoxifen therapy in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004; 350(11):1081-92. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa040331. View

4.
Hughes K, Schnaper L, R Bellon J, Cirrincione C, Berry D, McCormick B . 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):2382-7. PMC: 3691356. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2012.45.2615. View

5.
Muss H, Tu D, Ingle J, Martino S, Robert N, Pater J . Efficacy, toxicity, and quality of life in older women with early-stage breast cancer treated with letrozole or placebo after 5 years of tamoxifen: NCIC CTG intergroup trial MA.17. J Clin Oncol. 2008; 26(12):1956-64. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2007.12.6334. View