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Nieder C, Johnsen SK, Winther AM, Mannsåker B. Patient-reported symptoms before adjuvant locoregional radiotherapy for breast cancer: triple-negative histology impacts the symptom burden. Strahlenther Onkol 2024; 200:507-511. [PMID: 38530418 PMCID: PMC11111479 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-024-02224-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multimodal breast cancer treatment may cause side effects reflected in patient-reported outcomes and/or symptom scores at the time of treatment planning for adjuvant radiotherapy. In our department, all patients have been assessed with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS; a questionnaire addressing 11 major symptoms and wellbeing on a numeric scale of 0-10) at the time of treatment planning since 2016. In this study, we analyzed ESAS symptom severity before locoregional radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Retrospective review of 132 patients treated between 2016 and 2021 (all comers in breast-conserving or post-mastectomy settings, different radiotherapy fractionations) was performed. All ESAS items and the ESAS point sum were analyzed to identify subgroups with higher symptom burden and thus need for additional care measures. RESULTS The biggest patient-reported issues were fatigue, pain, and sleep problems. Patients with triple negative breast cancer reported a higher symptom burden (mean 30 versus 20, p = 0.038). Patients assigned to adjuvant endocrine therapy had the lowest point sum (mean 18), followed by those on Her-2-targeting agents without chemotherapy (mean 19), those on chemotherapy with or without other drugs (mean 26), and those without systemic therapy (mean 41), p = 0.007. Those with pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant treatment had significantly lower anxiety scores (mean 0.7 versus 1.8, p = 0.03) and a trend towards lower depression scores, p = 0.09. CONCLUSION Different surgical strategies, age, and body mass index did not impact on ESAS scores, while the type of adjuvant systemic therapy did. The effect of previous neoadjuvant treatment and unfavorable tumor biology (triple negative) emerged as important factors associated with symptom burden, albeit in different domains. ESAS data may facilitate identification of patients who should be considered for additional supportive measures to alleviate specific symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Nieder
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Silje K Johnsen
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway
| | - Annette M Winther
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway
| | - Bård Mannsåker
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway
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Burkon P, Selingerova I, Slavik M, Holanek M, Vrzal M, Coufal O, Polachova K, Muller P, Slampa P, Kazda T. Toxicity of external beam accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) in adjuvant therapy of early-stage breast cancer: prospective randomized study. Radiat Oncol 2024; 19:17. [PMID: 38310249 PMCID: PMC10837889 DOI: 10.1186/s13014-024-02412-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is an alternative breast-conserving therapy approach where radiation is delivered in less time compared to whole breast irradiation (WBI), resulting in improved patient convenience, less toxicity, and cost savings. This prospective randomized study compares the external beam APBI with commonly used moderate hypofractionated WBI in terms of feasibility, safety, tolerance, and cosmetic effects. METHODS Early breast cancer patients after partial mastectomy were equally randomized into two arms- external APBI and moderate hypofractionated WBI. External beam technique using available technical innovations commonly used in targeted hypofractionated radiotherapy to minimize irradiated volumes was used (cone beam computed tomography navigation to clips in the tumor bed, deep inspiration breath hold technique, volumetric modulated arc therapy dose application, using flattening filter free beams and the six degrees of freedom robotic treatment couch). Cosmetics results and toxicity were evaluated using questionnaires, CTCAE criteria, and photo documentation. RESULTS The analysis of 84 patients with a median age of 64 years showed significantly fewer acute adverse events in the APBI arm regarding skin reactions, local and general symptoms during a median follow-up of 37 months (range 21-45 months). A significant difference in favor of the APBI arm in grade ≥ 2 late skin toxicity was observed (p = 0.026). Late toxicity in the breast area (deformation, edema, fibrosis, and pain), affecting the quality of life and cosmetic effect, occurred in 61% and 17% of patients in WBI and APBI arms, respectively. The cosmetic effect was more favorable in the APBI arm, especially 6 to 12 months after the radiotherapy. CONCLUSION External APBI demonstrated better feasibility and less toxicity than the standard regimen in the adjuvant setting for treating early breast cancer patients. The presented study confirmed the level of evidence for establishing the external APBI in daily clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT06007118.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Burkon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Iveta Selingerova
- Research Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology (RECAMO), Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Zluty kopec 7, 656 53, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Marek Slavik
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Milos Holanek
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Vrzal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oldrich Coufal
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Polachova
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Muller
- Research Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology (RECAMO), Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Zluty kopec 7, 656 53, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Slampa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Kazda
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Research Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology (RECAMO), Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Zluty kopec 7, 656 53, Brno, Czech Republic
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