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Accelerated hyperfractionation of radiotherapy for rapidly growing inoperable breast cancer unresponsive to
D Giannakakis1, M Koukourakis, A Sotiropoulou
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Hellenic Anticancer Institute, St. Savvas Hospital, Leoforos Alexandras Athens, Greece.
Abstract:
Eleven patients with rapidly growing inoperable breast carcinoma were treated with a thrice-a-day fractionation of 1.2 Gy per fraction (5-h intervals, 15 fractions per week). Nine of them had been considered as non-responders to previous aggressive multidrug chemotherapy. A split of 2 weeks was inserted after 54 Gy, and radiation fields were then restricted to the clinical positive area up to a total tumor dose of 90 Gy. Nine of 11 patients completed their treatment, and 7 of them were considered as complete responders. Acute toxicity was surprisingly low (grade I-II). Four patients surviving 12-18 months after radiotherapy did not relapse and did not present any late complications. A favorably improved quality of life was obtained for all 9 patients.