Fewer but larger radiotherapy doses ‘as effective as smaller ones’

GIVING women fewer but large doses of radiotherapy may be just as effective at cutting the risk of breast cancer returning as smaller ones, experts say.

Research published today in the journal Lancet Oncology found 13 larger doses of radiotherapy were just as good at reducing the risk of breast cancer returning as 25 smaller doses.

Not only that, but the doses were believed to be just as safe and did not increase the risk of suffering side effects.

The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, was carried out by a team from the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, the Gloucestershire Oncology Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research and the University of Wisconsin in the US.

The 10-year trial followed 1,410 women who had a lumpectomy following treatment for early breast cancer and radiotherapy.

They were divided into three groups — one given the standard treatment of 25 doses in five weeks (totalling 50 “grays” — the measurement of radiation — over the period). The other two groups given 13 doses in larger amounts over the same period (totalling 42.9 grays and 39 grays respectively).

The researchers found that those given 25 doses had a 12.1% 10-year risk of the cancer recurring while the two groups given 13 doses had a 10-year risk of 9.6% (42.9 grays) and 14.8% (39 grays).

Fewer treatments could reduce inconvenience to patients and may also be cost effective, it said.

Lead researcher, Professor John Yarnold, from The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We think it should be possible to give fewer but higher daily doses of radiotherapy to the breast to prevent cancer from returning without harming the patient’s healthy tissues.”

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: “This was an extremely important early trial.

“If these results are confirmed in the larger follow-up studies, it could mean better outcomes with less hospital visits for patients and therefore an improvement in their quality of life.”