Palliative radiation therapy for symptomatic advance breast cancer

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 5;11(1):5282. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84872-9.

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of palliative breast radiation therapy (RT), with single fraction RT compared with fractionated RT. Our study showed that both RT fractionation schemas provide palliation. Single fraction RT allowed for treatment with minimal interference with systemic therapy, whereas fractionated RT provided a more durable palliative response. Due to equivalent palliative response, at our institution we have increasingly been providing single fraction RT palliation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast / radiation effects
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control
  • COVID-19 / transmission
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Electrons / adverse effects
  • Electrons / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / standards
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy*
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Photons / adverse effects
  • Photons / therapeutic use*
  • Radiation Oncology / standards
  • Radiodermatitis / epidemiology*
  • Radiodermatitis / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome