Radiotherapy after mastectomy

Rachel C Blitzblau; Janet K Horton

doi:10.1016/j.soc.2013.02.012

Radiotherapy after mastectomy

Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2013 Jul;22(3):563-77. doi: 10.1016/j.soc.2013.02.012. Epub 2013 Mar 19.

Authors

Rachel C Blitzblau¹, Janet K Horton

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 23622080
DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2013.02.012

Abstract

Classic randomized trials documented the benefit of postmastectomy radiotherapy in women with node-positive or locally advanced breast cancer. Modern advances in surgical therapy, systemic therapy, and radiotherapy, however, along with an improved understanding of cancer biology, have called into question previously assumed recurrence risks and treatment benefits. This article explores the impact of tumor biology and genomic medicine on utilization of postmastectomy radiotherapy and how treatment decision making is moving beyond TNM-based predictors.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
Breast Neoplasms / surgery
Female
Humans
Mastectomy / adverse effects*
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy*
Radiotherapy, Adjuvant*