Safety for Repeat Lumpectomy Without Radiotherapy for Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence

There is little information on the local recurrence risk of patients who undergo repeat lumpectomy without radiotherapy after salvage surgery for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR).

Sixty-five patients who underwent repeat lumpectomy without radiotherapy after IBTR were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors of second IBTR, including the breast cancer subtype of IBTR defined by the estrogen receptor (ER) and HER2 status, were assessed.

The median follow-up period was 62 months. The 5-year second IBTR-free survival rate was 83%. Patients with the ER-positive/HER2-negative subtype of IBTR had a significantly better second IBTR-free survival rate than those with other subtypes of IBTR (88% vs. 75%, respectively, p=0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that the breast cancer subtype of IBTR was a significantly independent predictive factor of second IBTR-free survival (p=0.003). A low-risk group for second IBTR, defined by the breast cancer subtype of IBTR and margin status of primary surgery, was detected (5-year second IBTR-free survival rate: 100%).

Patients in the low-risk group defined by the breast cancer subtype of IBTR and margin status of primary surgery could safely undergo repeat lumpectomy without radiotherapy for IBTR.