Lorenza Marino1, Valentina Lancellotta2, Pierfrancesco Franco3, Icro Meattini4, Bruno Meduri5, Marco Bernini6, Alessandra Fabi7, Renzo Corvò8, Stefano M Magrini9, Giovanni L Pappagallo10, Stefano Arcangeli11, Rolando M D'Angelillo12. 1. Radiotherapy Oncology Department, Humanitas-Istituto Clinico Catanese, Misterbianco (CT), Italy. 2. Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC di Radioterapia, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Radioterapiche Ed Ematologiche, Roma, Italy. Electronic address: valentina.lancellotta@policlinicogemelli.it. 3. Department of Oncology, Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 4. Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "M. Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Radiation Oncology Unit - Oncology Department, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. 5. Radiation Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy. 6. Breast Surgery Unit, Oncology Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 7. Oncology Unit 1, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy; La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. 8. Department of Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino and Department of Health Science, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. 9. Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Ospedali Civili and Brescia University, Brescia, Italy. 10. Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda ULSS 3 Serenissima, Mirano-Dolo, Verona, Italy. 11. Department of Radiation Oncology, Policlinico S. Gerardo and University of Milan "Bicocca", Milan, Italy. 12. Radiotherapy, Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Università Degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To perform a meta-analysis to determine the effect of loco-regional radiation therapy (RT) compared to no loco-regional RT for operated patients in clinical stage cN2 breast cancer at diagnosis and ypN0 after preoperative chemotherapy (PST). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eligible studies were identified through a systematic search of the medical literature performed independently by two researchers using a validated search strategy. An electronic search of Medline via PubMed and Embase (Breast cancer AND preoperative chemotherapy AND radiation therapy) was conducted with no language or publication status restrictions. The effect of loco-regional RT on overall (OS), disease free (DFS), loco-regional recurrence-free (LRRFS) survival and local recurrence was evaluated. An electronic search of Medline via PubMed and Embase (Toxicity AND radiation therapy breast cancer AND preoperative therapy; toxicity AND breast surgery AND preoperative chemotherapy) was conducted for outcomes of harm: major acute and late skin toxicity, lymphedema and cardiac events. RESULTS: Of 333 studies identified, 4 retrospective studies reporting on a total of 1107 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Six and 3 reported data of acute and late skin toxicity, while 2 studies provided information on cardiac events. Pooled results showed no difference in terms of hazard ratio for loco-regional RT versus no loco-regional RT [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-1.68]. Loco-regional RT was associated with an OS benefit in the subgroup analysis: IIIB-C (loco-regional RT 79.3% vs no loco-regional RT 71.2%, p = 0.027) and T3-T4 (loco-regional RT 82.6% vs no loco-regional RT 76.6%, p = 0.025). No difference was shown in terms of 5-year DFS (loco-regional RT 91.2% vs no loco-regional RT 83%, p = 0.441) and LRRFS (loco-regional RT 98.1% vs no loco-regional RT 92.3%, p = 0.148). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of acute and late skin toxicities, lymphedema and cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the limitations due to the small number of studies and heterogeneity in the analysis, the present study does not allow to draw any definitive conclusion, highlighting the need for well-controlled trials to determine the effect of loco-regional RT in patients with cN2 having a pathological complete response in the axillary nodes after preoperative chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE: To perform a meta-analysis to determine the effect of loco-regional radiation therapy (RT) compared to no loco-regional RT for operated patients in clinical stage cN2breast cancer at diagnosis and ypN0 after preoperative chemotherapy (PST). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eligible studies were identified through a systematic search of the medical literature performed independently by two researchers using a validated search strategy. An electronic search of Medline via PubMed and Embase (Breast cancer AND preoperative chemotherapy AND radiation therapy) was conducted with no language or publication status restrictions. The effect of loco-regional RT on overall (OS), disease free (DFS), loco-regional recurrence-free (LRRFS) survival and local recurrence was evaluated. An electronic search of Medline via PubMed and Embase (Toxicity AND radiation therapy breast cancer AND preoperative therapy; toxicity AND breast surgery AND preoperative chemotherapy) was conducted for outcomes of harm: major acute and late skin toxicity, lymphedema and cardiac events. RESULTS: Of 333 studies identified, 4 retrospective studies reporting on a total of 1107 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Six and 3 reported data of acute and late skin toxicity, while 2 studies provided information on cardiac events. Pooled results showed no difference in terms of hazard ratio for loco-regional RT versus no loco-regional RT [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-1.68]. Loco-regional RT was associated with an OS benefit in the subgroup analysis: IIIB-C (loco-regional RT 79.3% vs no loco-regional RT 71.2%, p = 0.027) and T3-T4 (loco-regional RT 82.6% vs no loco-regional RT 76.6%, p = 0.025). No difference was shown in terms of 5-year DFS (loco-regional RT 91.2% vs no loco-regional RT 83%, p = 0.441) and LRRFS (loco-regional RT 98.1% vs no loco-regional RT 92.3%, p = 0.148). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of acute and late skin toxicities, lymphedema and cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the limitations due to the small number of studies and heterogeneity in the analysis, the present study does not allow to draw any definitive conclusion, highlighting the need for well-controlled trials to determine the effect of loco-regional RT in patients with cN2 having a pathological complete response in the axillary nodes after preoperative chemotherapy.