The Scotsman

Doubts over efficacy of radiothera­py

- By ELLA PICKOVER newsdeskts@scotsman.com

One of the longest-ever followup studies of breast cancer patients has found radiothera­py does not appear to improve survival after 30 years.

Researcher­s found radiothera­py with either chemothera­py or the hormone drug tamoxifen after surgery does reduce the risk of the disease returning in the subsequent ten years. But it makes little difference to that risk thereafter, researcher­s said.

Nor does it improve overall survival after 30 years, according to the new study, which is beingprese­ntedtothee­uropean Breast Cancer Conference in Spain.

But other academics point out the women included in the study initially had treatment three decades ago, and since then more sophistica­ted radiothera­py treatment techniques have been developed.

The new research, led by Ian Kunkler, honorary professor of clinical oncology at the University of Edinburgh, is one of the longest follow-up studies tracking patients who received breast conserving surgery.

The Scottish breast conservati­on trial tracked 585 patients for 30 years. All of the patients were under the age of 70 at the start of the study and they were all diagnosed with early breast cancer.

After surgery they were given chemothera­py or the drug tamoxifen – depending on whether or not their cancer was driven by the hormone oestrogen. Half of the patients also had radiothera­py.

A decade after initial treatment, the risk of breast cancer recurring in the same breast was reduced by more than 60 per cent among the group who had received radiothera­py compared to those who did not. But after the ten-year mark, the risk of recurrence was similar in both groups.

Meanwhile, 30 years after their treatment, 24 per cent of women who had radiothera­py were still alive compared to 27.5 per cent of those who did not.

“Long-term follow-up is essential in breast cancer trials so that we can understand the full picture,” Prof Kunkler said.

“These data challenge the idea that radiothera­py improves long-term survival by preventing recurrence­s of cancer in the same breast.”

He added: “We found that there is no long-term improvemen­t in overall survival for those women having radiothera­py.

"This may be because, although radiothera­py may help to prevent some breast cancer deaths, it may also cause a few more deaths, particular­ly a long time after the radiothera­py, from other causes such as heart and blood vessel diseases.

“Thebenefit­sofhavingr­adiotherap­y in terms of fewer local recurrence­s are only accrued over the first ten years after radiothera­py. Thereafter, the rate of local recurrence is similar whether or not patients had radiothera­py.

“Patients with breast cancer can live for decades after treatment for the disease.

“These findings warrant comparison with other studies of similar design through long-term, careful follow-up.”

Prof Kunkler added: “It’s important to note that every woman with breast cancer is different and will have different forms of the disease.”

 ?? ?? ↑ The research was led by Edinburgh University
↑ The research was led by Edinburgh University

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