BREAST-CONSERVING THERAPY IN STAGE-I AND STAGE-II BREAST-CANCER IN KOREA

A randomized clinical study of 187 patients with T1, T2 breast cancer was performed, in order to compare the effects of modified radical mas tectomy (MRM) and breast conserving therapy (BCT) on breast recurrence , overall survival, and disease-free survival. One hundred eighty seve n patients with T1, T2 breast cancer, admitted at Yongdong Severance H ospital from April 1991 to August 1994, were randomized into two diffe rent treatment groups. Of the 187 patients, 111 patients had received MRM and 76 had received BCT. In any of the variables considered with t he exceptions of age and menopausal status, patient characteristics su ch as tumor size, incidence of axillary lymph node metastasis, histolo gic grading, and estrogen and progesterone receptor positive rate were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). Using the Kaplan-Meier Product-limit method and log-rank test, the differenc e of locoregional recurrence, and overall and disease-free survival, b etween these comparable groups was analyzed. Average follow-up period was 37.6 months. Two out of 111 MRM patients and two out of 76 BCT pat ients had locoregional recurrence. Only one patient who had MRM was fo und to have a recurrence in her opposite breast. The overall survival rates in MRM and BCT patients were? respectively, 93.7% and 94.1%. Fur thermore, the disease-free survival rates were, respectively, 89.2% an d 93.9%. This result indicates that there were no significant differen ces between two groups in locoregional recurrence, and overall and dis ease-free survival. Having gained a better cosmetic appearance, the co nservative treatment group was satisfied with the BCT. In this study, we conclude that BCT is a good alternative surgical treatment modality for T1, T2 Korean breast cancer patients, which could substitute for the more traditional MRM. However, further follow-up will be needed fo r long-term results.