Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy and Endocrine Therapy for Oestrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancers: The Neo-RT Feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Breast Cancer Research

Background:

• Neoadjuvant therapy aims to reduce tumor size before definitive treatment.
• Oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancers often require tailored treatment strategies.
• Radiotherapy can potentially facilitate breast-conserving surgery for larger tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and feasibility of neoadjuvant radiotherapy and endocrine therapy for oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancers (≥20mm).
• To determine if this neoadjuvant approach could enable more conservative surgical options.
• To evaluate treatment completion rates, response, and toxicity.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm feasibility study involving 14 patients with oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
• Patients received whole breast radiotherapy (40Gy/15 fractions) with optional boosts, followed by 20 weeks of endocrine therapy.
• Primary endpoint was successful completion of neoadjuvant treatment and surgery; secondary endpoints included response and toxicity.

Main Results:

• All 13 treated patients (100%) successfully completed neoadjuvant radiotherapy and endocrine treatment.
• 7/13 patients (54%) underwent more conservative surgery than initially planned.
• No significant acute toxicities were reported; long-term outcomes were generally mild.

Conclusions:

• The neoadjuvant radiotherapy and endocrine therapy schedule appears feasible for this patient group.
• While safety and toxicity data are limited by small numbers, they align with existing reports.
• The regimen shows promise for facilitating breast-conserving surgery in larger ER+ breast cancers.