BACKGROUND: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is an alternative breast-conserving therapy approach where radiation is delivered in less time compared to whole breast irradiation (WBI), resulting in improved patient convenience, less toxicity, and cost savings. This prospective randomized study compares the external beam APBI with commonly used moderate hypofractionated WBI in terms of feasibility, safety, tolerance, and cosmetic effects. METHODS: Early breast cancer patients after partial mastectomy were equally randomized into two arms- external APBI and moderate hypofractionated WBI. External beam technique using available technical innovations commonly used in targeted hypofractionated radiotherapy to minimize irradiated volumes was used (cone beam computed tomography navigation to clips in the tumor bed, deep inspiration breath hold technique, volumetric modulated arc therapy dose application, using flattening filter free beams and the six degrees of freedom robotic treatment couch). Cosmetics results and toxicity were evaluated using questionnaires, CTCAE criteria, and photo documentation. RESULTS: The analysis of 84 patients with a median age of 64 years showed significantly fewer acute adverse events in the APBI arm regarding skin reactions, local and general symptoms during a median follow-up of 37 months (range 21-45 months). A significant difference in favor of the APBI arm in grade ≥ 2 late skin toxicity was observed (p = 0.026). Late toxicity in the breast area (deformation, edema, fibrosis, and pain), affecting the quality of life and cosmetic effect, occurred in 61% and 17% of patients in WBI and APBI arms, respectively. The cosmetic effect was more favorable in the APBI arm, especially 6 to 12 months after the radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: External APBI demonstrated better feasibility and less toxicity than the standard regimen in the adjuvant setting for treating early breast cancer patients. The presented study confirmed the level of evidence for establishing the external APBI in daily clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT06007118.

Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Brno Czech Republic

Department of Mathematics and Statistics Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Radiation Oncology Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Brno Czech Republic

Department of Surgical Oncology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Surgical Oncology Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Brno Czech Republic

Research Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Zluty kopec 7 656 53 Brno Czech Republic

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Quality of life in early breast cancer patients after adjuvant accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) in randomized trial

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