Some of the more interesting findings at the 50th Annual American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Conference held recently in Boston, MA, were the presentations on breast cancer research.

Peter Beitsch, M.D. spoke with DOTmed News about one of the studies for which he was co-principal researcher.

This research concerned recurrence and survival rates of MammoSite Targeted Radiation Therapy patients within the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBS) MammoSite RTS Registry trial.
MammoSite therapy (accelerated partial breast irradiation--APBI) works by treating the lumpectomy site with a "seed" of radiation twice a day for five minutes over the course of five days, rather than radiation therapy over the whole breast for 5-7 weeks. A total of 1,440 patients were in the registry, treated from May 2002 to September 2004; the first 400 patients in the registry were the subjects of this initial research. The research examined ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences, regional recurrences and survival rates.

The technique was controversial when it was introduced in 2002, for both the intensity of the irradiation and for targeting the lumpectomy site rather than the whole breast. At that time, the company set up a registry, which was eventually taken over by the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

The research found that in the first four years the 400 patients demonstrated a 2.5 reoccurrence rate, comparable with whole breast treatment. In addition, only one female patient out of that group had died. The patients were older women, node negative, and had smaller cancers. "There were no rampant recurrences or detriment to survival," Dr. Beitsch told DOTmed News. "We aren't saying it's better, but it's no worse."

Dr. Beitsch went on to say that the studies can reassure women who have received the treatment and the physicians who have given the treatment, that the system appears to be safe. Some of the noted advantages to APBI are reduced incidents of mastectomy, and convenience that eases the trauma of dealing with taking time off work and traveling for treatment--due to the reduced time of the therapy. In addition, Dr. Beitsch noted, there seemed to be little added cosmetic problems from the surgery such as skin depigmentation that radiation can sometimes cause.

Dr. Beitsch's group is planning to continue the research with the registry.

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