Jm. Metz et al., Analysis of outcomes for high-risk breast cancer based on interval from surgery to postmastectomy radiation therapy, CANCER J, 6(5), 2000, pp. 324-330
PURPOSE
The success of adjuvant chemotherapy has prolonged the interval between sur
gery and postmastectomy radiation therapy for highrisk breast cancer patien
ts. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a delay in radiation
therapy after mastectomy results in an increased risk of local-regional rec
urrence of breast cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective review was performed of the University of Pennsylvania data
base of 221 patients with high-risk breast cancer treated with postmastecto
my radiation therapy between 1977 and 1992. The surgery to postmastectomy r
adiation therapy time interval was 2 months or less in 82 patients (37%), 2
.1 to 6 months in 50 patients (23%), and greater than 6 months in 89 patien
ts (40%), Adjuvant chemotherapy was utilized in 151 patients (68%). The med
ian follow-up was 4.3 years after postmastectomy radiation therapy.
RESULTS Because the three groups showed significant differences for a numbe
r of prognostic factors, outcomes are reported in terms of local-regional r
ecurrence only and not survival. The actuarial rate of local-regional recur
rence at 8 years was 13% for patients with a surgery to radiation therapy i
nterval of 2 months or less, 4% for those with an interval of 2.1 to 6 mont
hs, and 12% for those with an interval of greater than 6 months. A similar
analysis performed for months or less versus greater than 4 months between
surgery and postmastectomy radiation therapy showed no difference in local-
regional recurrence (11% versus 10%, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
A delay in the institution of postmastectomy radiation therapy in favor of
the prolongation of chemotherapy for high-risk breast cancer patients does
not adversely affect outcome for local-regional recurrence at 8 years. (Can
cer J 2000;6:324-330).