From 25 Fractions to Five: How Hypofractionation has Revolutionised Adjuvant Breast Radiotherapy

J R Yarnold; A M Brunt; S Chatterjee; N Somaiah; A M Kirby

doi:10.1016/j.clon.2022.03.001

From 25 Fractions to Five: How Hypofractionation has Revolutionised Adjuvant Breast Radiotherapy

Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2022 May;34(5):332-339. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2022.03.001. Epub 2022 Mar 19.

Authors

J R Yarnold¹, A M Brunt², S Chatterjee³, N Somaiah⁴, A M Kirby⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
² School of Medicine, University of Keele, Keele, UK.
³ Department of Radiotherapy, Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata, India.
⁴ Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Department of Radiotherapy, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK.
⁵ Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Department of Radiotherapy, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 35318945
DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2022.03.001

Abstract

There is a sound empirical basis for hypofractionation in radiotherapy for breast cancer. This article reviews the radiobiological implications of hypofractionation in breast cancer derived from a series of clinical trials that began when 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks was commonplace. These trials led first to 40 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks and, subsequently, to 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week being adopted as standards of care for many patients prescribed whole- or partial-breast radiotherapy after primary surgery.

Keywords: Breast radiotherapy; Hypofractionation.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
Breast Neoplasms* / surgery
Female
Humans
Radiation Dose Hypofractionation*
Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
Treatment Outcome

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding