Post-mastectomy radiation therapy in breast cancer with 1-3 involved lymph nodes: the Pros

In 2014, the Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) reported that post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) for breast cancer patients with 1-3 cancer-positive lymph nodes is associated with a survival benefit. However, it is not known whether this applies to Japanese patients in daily clinical practice, because this conclusion was based on the results of older, western trials. Therefore, we studied the differences between PMRT results in western breast cancer patients and current practice in Japanese patients. Although we identified three differences, they do not appear to strongly impact the results of EBCTCG. We conclude that Japanese breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive lymph nodes should receive PMRT in daily clinical practice.