Black and white patients fare equally well when treated with postlumpectomy radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Some previous studies have demonstrated that black patients have inferior local-regional control and disease-free survival when treated with postlumpectomy radiotherapy. The intention of this study was to analyze the same outcomes with a larger series of black patients.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed at an academic referral center, a community hospital, and an inner-city public hospital.
RESULTS: A total of 270 patients that received postlumpectomy radiotherapy were reviewed. Of those, 102 were black, 162 white, and six nonblack, nonwhite. The black patients were statistically significantly more likely to present with higher-stage disease (Stage II: 43.1% vs. 32.1%), positive lymph nodes (29.4% vs. 14.8%), higher-grade disease (Grade III: 35.3% vs. 24.1%), and age < 45. The actuarial local control at five years in the black patients was 95.5% and in the white patients was 94.8%. The actuarial five-year disease-free survival in the black patients was 90.3% and in the white patients was 91.7%. There was no statistically significant difference in either local control or disease free-survival in the black and white patients when matched by stage.
CONCLUSION: At five years, the local control and disease-free survival for black patients are equally as good as white patients.