Ikegwuonu Theresa, Haddow Gill, Tait Joyce, Murray Alan F, Kunkler Ian H
Innogen Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Health Sci Rep. 2018 Apr;1(4):30. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.30.
This study aimed to explore breast cancer patients' understanding and acceptability of implanted biosensors (BS) within the primary tumour to personalise adjuvant radiotherapy, and to determine optimal design and number of BS, and evaluate potential clinical benefits as well as concerns about tolerance, toxicity, dwell time, and confidentiality of data.
A total of 32 patients treated by surgery (29 breast conserving, 3 mastectomy), postoperative radiotherapy and systemic therapy for early breast cancer, were recruited from a posttreatment radiotherapy clinic at a cancer centre. Patients participated in semistructured interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed using qualitative methods.
Participants were aged 39 to 87 years, with a median age of 62 years. Most (N = 23[72%]) were unfamiliar with biosensors. The majority (N = 29[90.6%]) were supportive of the technology's potential use in future breast cancer treatment and were willing to accept biosensors (N = 28[88%]) if they were endorsed by their breast cancer consultant. Only 3 patients expressed concerns, predominantly about uncertainties on their role in the diagnostic and treatment pathway. Patients were flexible about the size and shape of BS, but had a preference for small size (N = 28 [87.5%]). Most (N = 22[69%]) would accept implantation of more than 5 BS and were flexible (N = 22[69%]) about indefinite dwell time. Patients had a strong preference for wireless powering of the BS (N = 28[87.5%]). Few had concerns about loss of confidentiality of data collected. All patients considered biosensors to be potentially of important clinical benefit.
While knowledge of biosensors was limited, patients were generally supportive of biosensors implanted within the primary tumour to collect data that might personalise and improve breast cancer radiotherapy in future.
本研究旨在探讨乳腺癌患者对植入原发性肿瘤内的生物传感器（BS）以实现辅助放疗个性化的理解和接受程度，确定生物传感器的最佳设计和数量，评估潜在的临床益处以及对耐受性、毒性、驻留时间和数据保密性的担忧。
从一家癌症中心的放疗后诊所招募了32例接受手术（29例保乳手术，3例乳房切除术）、术后放疗和早期乳腺癌全身治疗的患者。患者参与了半结构化访谈。访谈记录采用定性方法进行分析。
参与者年龄在39至87岁之间，中位年龄为62岁。大多数（N = 23[72%]）不熟悉生物传感器。大多数（N = 29[90.6%]）支持该技术在未来乳腺癌治疗中的潜在应用，并且如果得到乳腺癌顾问的认可，愿意接受生物传感器（N = 28[88%]）。只有3例患者表示担忧，主要是对其在诊断和治疗路径中的作用存在不确定性。患者对生物传感器大小和形状的要求较为灵活，但更倾向于小尺寸（N = 28[87.5%]）。大多数（N = 22[69%]）愿意接受植入5个以上的生物传感器，并且对不确定的驻留时间持灵活态度（N = 22[69%]）。患者强烈倾向于生物传感器采用无线供电（N = 28[87.5%]）。很少有人担心所收集数据的保密性问题。所有患者都认为生物传感器可能具有重要的临床益处。
虽然对生物传感器的了解有限，但患者总体上支持在原发性肿瘤内植入生物传感器，以收集可能在未来实现乳腺癌放疗个性化并改善放疗效果的数据。
