Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate and compare the loco-regional progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and acute effects of the two breast palliative regimes used in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer between 2010 and 2013 in a single institution. Methods: Compliance to treatment, acute skin reactions, progression free and overall survival were retrospectively evaluated in patients who received palliative breast radiotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer between 2010 and 2013. The radiotherapy regimes were either 4Gy per fraction for 5 fractions treated 4 times a week (20Gy) or 6Gy per fraction for 6 fractions treated once a week (36Gy). They may have received previous chemotherapy with minimal or no clinical response, as well as hormonal treatment. Results: Forty three patients were followed up over a median period of 24 months, 14 of which received 20Gy and 29 received 36Gy. The average age was 64 years old. Compliance was 88% in both groups. Both groups had either grade 1 (71% vs 62%), grade 2 (21% vs 24%) or grade 3 (8% vs 14%) acute skin reactions. No grade 4 skin reactions were documented. The PFS was shorter at 4.5 months in the 20Gy group compared to 7.7 months in the 36Gy group (p=0.27). The OS was also shorter at 25.8 months in the 20Gy group compared to 29.6 months in the 36Gy group (p=0.51) Conclusion: This study did not show a statistically significant difference in terms of PFS and OS between the two radiotherapy regimes. They both remain reasonable options in local palliation in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/24483 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Fakie, Nazia |
| Contributors | Simonds, Hannah M, Naiker, Thurandarie |
| Publisher | University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Radiology |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Master Thesis, Masters, MMed |
| Format | application/pdf |
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