Radiation therapy of the primary tumour and oligometastatic sites in patients with breast cancer with synchronous metastases: A literature review

Abstract

De novo metastatic breast cancer represents 5 to 8% of all breast cancers (2500 new cases per year in France). Systemic treatment is the cornerstone of treatment, whereas radiation therapy usually has a palliative intent. Advances in systemic and local treatments (surgery and radiation therapy) have substantially improved overall survival. In the recent breast cancer statistics in the United States, the 5-year relative survival for patients diagnosed during 2012-2018 was 29% for stage IV (Breast Cancer Statistics). Thus, an increasing proportion of metastatic breast cancers present a prolonged complete response to systemic therapy, which raises the question of the impact of local treatment on patient survival. Radiation therapy has shown its value for early breast cancer, but its place in the local management of the primary tumour or oligometastatic sites for de novo metastatic breast cancer remains under debate. This article is a literature review assessing the role of radiation therapy directed to the primary tumour and oligometastatic sites of breast cancer in patients with synchronous metastases, in order to highlight clinicians in their therapeutic decision.

Keywords: Cancer du sein métastatique; Maladie oligométastatique; Metastatic breast cancer; Oligometastatic disease; Primary tumour; Radiotherapy; Radiothérapie; Traitement du cancer primitif.