Jiamao Lin1, Cheng Li2, Chenyue Zhang3, Fang Shi4, Haiyong Wang4. 1. Department of Internal Medicine-Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China. 2. Dean's Office, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China. 3. Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China. 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China.
Abstract
AIM: Conducting postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) for breast cancer patients with one to three positive lymph nodes is still controversial. METHODS: Propensity score matching analysis was applied to balance the clinical baseline characteristics of patients. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to analyze the survival prognosis factors and perform subgroup analysis. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in overall survival and cancer-specific survival rates (all, p > 0.05) between the PMRT and non-PMRT groups. However, for subgroup patients with tumor size ≥5 cm and the number of positive lymph nodes = 3, PMRT showed a significant survival benefit. CONCLUSION: PMRT can improve overall survival and cancer-specific survival only in breast cancer patients whose tumor size is larger than 5 cm and with three positive lymph nodes.
AIM: Conducting postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) for breast cancerpatients with one to three positive lymph nodes is still controversial. METHODS: Propensity score matching analysis was applied to balance the clinical baseline characteristics of patients. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to analyze the survival prognosis factors and perform subgroup analysis. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in overall survival and cancer-specific survival rates (all, p > 0.05) between the PMRT and non-PMRT groups. However, for subgroup patients with tumor size ≥5 cm and the number of positive lymph nodes = 3, PMRT showed a significant survival benefit. CONCLUSION: PMRT can improve overall survival and cancer-specific survival only in breast cancerpatients whose tumor size is larger than 5 cm and with three positive lymph nodes.