IN a groundbreaking study evaluating intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as a tumor bed boost with whole-breast irradiation (WBI) for patients with breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS), researchers found that the combination approach offers promising safety and efficacy outcomes. The study, conducted on 217 female patients in China, analyzed the impact of varying IORT doses (10 Gy, 10-20 Gy, and 20 Gy) on recurrence rates, disease-free survival (DFS), and wound healing.
Results revealed an impressive 1-year DFS rate of 99.1% and 2-year DFS rate of 98.2%, with only a 2.3% recurrence rate. Importantly, the IORT doses between 10 Gy and 20 Gy were found to provide the best balance of efficacy and safety. Doses greater than 20 Gy were associated with an increased risk of delayed wound healing (15.8% vs. 2.6% for 10 Gy) without offering additional survival benefits.
The study highlighted age and tumor size as key risk factors for recurrence, with younger patients (under 45) and those with tumors larger than 2 cm exhibiting higher recurrence rates. Despite this, all participants were alive at the median follow-up of 20 months, underscoring the efficacy of this combined treatment regimen.
The findings suggest that IORT in conjunction with WBI can be safely administered with promising long-term outcomes in patients with breast cancer, particularly when a dose range of 10-20 Gy is adhered to. Further research is needed to refine dosing strategies tailored to risk profiles, ensuring the most effective approach for each patient.
Reference:
Chen J et al. Optimizing intraoperative radiotherapy as a tumor bed boost with whole-breast irradiation in breast cancer. World J Surg Oncol. 2025 Jul 24;23(1):298.
