Comparison of the Efficacy of Different Doses of Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy After Breast-conserving Surgery for Early-stage Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective — To investigate the efficacy of different doses of intensity modulated radiation therapy in patients with early breast cancer after breast conserving surgery in order to provide more accurate treatment guidelines for clinical practice to further improve treatment outcomes and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Methods — The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different radiotherapy regimens after breast conserving surgery for early stage breast cancer. The study included 96 patients with early-stage breast cancer who were treated in our oncology department between January 2020 and May 2021. Patients were self-divided into group A and Group B by double-blind method, with 48 patients in each group. Group A received radiation therapy of 50Gy/25Fx for the whole breast after surgery, and an additional dose of 60Gy/25Fx was added to irradiate the tumor bed. Group B received whole breast radiation therapy of 50Gy/25Fx and tumor bed push of 10Gy/5Fx at the same time. The study will compare the differences between the two groups in treatment outcomes, three-year survival, and various adverse events that occur within six months of radiotherapy. Results — When comparing the two groups with different doses of IMRT, the authors focused on the difference in the percentage of the combined volume of prescription dose exposure above the percentage measurement line and the target dose uniformity index. The results showed very significant statistical differences between the two groups for both measures. In addition, it is worth noting that the probability of adverse reactions in group B patients exceeded that in group A, with a statistically significant difference. Conclusion — For patients undergoing breast conserving surgery for early stage breast cancer, receiving radiation therapy with a total dose of 60Gy can significantly improve treatment outcomes. Compared with other dosing regimens, the use of 60Gy intensity modulated radiation therapy can significantly reduce the incidence of adverse reactions while achieving the same therapeutic effect.