Postoperative radiation therapy for prevention of breast cancer local recurrence

Between 2005 and 2012, a total of 162 patients with operable breast cancer (T 1-4N 0-3M 0-1) were treated with neo- and adjuvant chemotherapy, radical mastectomy, postoperative external beam radiotherapy with the use of densely ionizing radiation delivered to the area of the anterior thoracic wall including postoperative scar and external beam radiotherapy to the areas of potential cancer spread. Adjuvant radiation therapy delivered to the area of the anterior chest wall and postoperative scar served as a good prevention of local recurrence of breast cancer. Postoperative neutron therapy was effective in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. The 5-year recurrence-free survival for neutron and electron therapies were 93.6±4.3% and 93.8±3.5%, respectively. The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 80±6.1% in patients who received radiation therapy delivered only to the areas of potential cancer spread without radiotherapy of postoperative scar.