AIM

To determine whether the addition of regional nodal irradiation (RNI) to whole-breast irradiation (WBI) would improve outcomes over WBI alone in T1-2N1 breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and adjuvant systematic therapy.

METHODS

Data were obtained from two randomized controlled trials (NCT00174655 and NCT00312208). Univariate and multivariate Cox-regression analysis were performed to investigate predictors for overall survival and disease-free survival. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was applied to eliminate selection bias.

RESULTS

With median follow-up 80 months (range: 3-155 months), the 5-year local regional recurrence in the WBI group was 2% vs. 5% (p = 0.28) in the WBI + supraclavicular radiotherapy, and the rate of 5-year distant metastasis in the WBI group was 7% vs. 13% in the WBI + supraclavicular radiotherapy (p = 0.0748); In addition, the 5-year local regional recurrence in the WBI group was 3% vs. 9% (p = 0.19) in the WBI + internal mammary irradiation (IMI); However, the rate of 5-year distant metastasis in the in the WBI group was significantly lower than that in the WBI + IMI (8% vs. 24%, p = 0.036). After PSM, cox-regression analysis indicated that neither RNI nor IMI in combination with WBI in T1-2N1 breast cancer was associated with an improved overall survival and disease-free survival when compared to WBI alone.

CONCLUSION

The addition of RNI to WBI in T1-2N1 breast cancer after BCS and adjuvant systematic therapy did not improve outcomes in comparison with WBI alone. Further studies are still needed to identify patients who would most benefit from RNI in this patient population.