Intraoperative radiotherapy in breast conserving surgery

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) delivers a single radiation dose to the tumor bed during surgery.
• It aims to minimize radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
• Accelerated partial breast radiotherapy (APBR) guidelines define suitable patient candidates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for breast cancer.
• To assess IORT in the context of lumpectomy for specific patient groups.
• To align IORT application with established APBR guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Administration of a single fraction of radiation directly to the tumor bed during lumpectomy.
• Shielding of low-risk and uninvolved tissues from radiation effects.
• Focus on patient cohorts meeting criteria for APBR, including post-menopausal women with specific tumor characteristics.

Main Results:

• The TARGIT A and ELIOT trials demonstrated the efficacy of IORT.
• IORT proved effective when administered concurrently with lumpectomy.
• Successful application in post-menopausal women with low to intermediate grade, lymph node-negative invasive ductal carcinoma.

Conclusions:

• IORT is an effective treatment option for selected breast cancer patients.
• It aligns with international guidelines for accelerated partial breast radiotherapy.
• IORT offers a targeted approach for early-stage invasive ductal carcinoma during lumpectomy.