This year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) features a record number of radiation oncology trials among its oral presentations. Today’s General Session 4 (3:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT in Hall 3) will showcase five major studies designed to improve outcomes for the majority of breast cancer patients who receive radiation therapy to cure and/or provide relief from the disease.

“Breast cancer is the most common malignancy treated with radiation therapy in the United States,” said Wendy A. Woodward, MD, PhD, Professor and Chief of the Clinical Breast Radiotherapy Service at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Oncologists often prescribe radiation therapy to patients following breast cancer surgery to lower the chance of the cancer returning or spreading. Radiation therapy also can help women to preserve the breast and avoid axillary surgery.” Dr. Woodward also will provide commentary when she moderates the session.

“This is a banner year for studies highlighting the efficacy of radiation oncology for breast cancer. A major emphasis in these trials is refining treatments to provide more options for patients, such as shorter courses of radiation therapy,” added Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, FASTRO, Professor and Deputy Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Jagsi also will discuss over- and under-treatment in a session Friday at 2:15 p.m. CT in Hall 3.
Two studies from the session were featured in a SABCS press conference earlier today:
Radiotherapy or surgery of the axilla after a positive sentinel node in breast cancer patients: 10 year follow up results of the EORTC AMAROS trial (abstract GS4-01)
SABCS news release: Accelerated partial breast irradiation, although close, was not equivalent to whole breast irradiation to control ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence
Primary results of NSABP B-39/RTOG 0413 (NRG Oncology): A randomized phase III study of conventional whole breast irradiation (WBI) versus partial breast irradiation (PBI) for women with stage 0, I, or II breast cancer (abstract GS4-04)
SABCS news release: Axillary radiotherapy and lymph node surgery yielded comparable 10-year outcomes for patients with breast cancer
Three additional studies will be presented this afternoon:
Regional lymph node irradiation in early stage breast cancer: An EBCTCG meta-analysis of 13,000 women in 14 trials (abstract GS4-02)
Key takeaway: Radiation therapy to the regional lymph nodes following breast cancer surgery improves long-term outcomes.

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