Outcome of breast-conserving therapy in the Tokyo Women's Medical University Breast Cancer Society experience

• Published in: Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan) Japan), 2003-10, Vol.10 (4), p.341-348
• Main Authors: Karasawa, Kumiko, Obara, Takao, Shimizu, Tadao, Haga, Shunsuke, Okamoto, Takahiro, Ito, Yukio, Kamio, Takako, Kimura, Tsunehito, Kameoka, Shingo, Mitsuhashi, Norio, Nishikawa, Toshio, Aiba, Motohiko, Izuo, Mazaru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Carcinoma, Ductal - surgery; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Mastectomy, Segmental - methods; Middle Aged; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Retrospective Studies; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1340-6868; 1880-4233
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02967655

The results of BCT in Japanese women have not been fully evaluated. The Tokyo Women's Medical University Breast Cancer Society initiated BCT protocols in 1987. Here, we present a retrospective analysis of BCT outcomes and identify prognostic factors. The study population comprised 348 patients (353 breasts) with UICC clinical stage 0,I or II breast cancer, for whom wide excision (n= 294), quadrantectomy (n= 56) and tumorectomy (n= 3) were performed. The final pathological margin states were positive in 102 breasts (cancer cells remained within 5 mm of the surgical margin). The whole breast was irradiated to a total dose with 44 Gy/20 fractions or 46 Gy/23 fractions in the patients with negative surgical margins. The patients with positive or close margins received 48.4 Gy/22 fractions or 50 Gy/25 fractions irradiation to the whole breast. All but 2 patients received a radiation boost to the tumor bed and all tumor beds were irradiated to more than 53 Gy. Adjuvant therapy was administered in 240 cases. The median follow-up time was 4.3 years. The 5-year overall, cause-specific and disease-free survival rates were 95.8%, 97.3% and 92.5%, respectively. Recurrence was observed in 29 patients including 11 patients with loco-regional recurrence. Local recurrence was observed in 6 patients, 5 of whom were premenopausal. The 5-year local control and loco-regional control rates were 98.9% and 96.6%, respectively. T status (T1 to T2) was the only significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival. No severe morbidity has been observed. Cosmetic results were excellent or good in 73% of patients. Our BCT protocols provide a high rate of local control and good cosmetic outcome. Pathologic margin status was not a major prognostic factor for local recurrence. Long term follow-up is required to reach a definite conclusion on optimal BCT protocols.