Radiotherapy significantly lowers breast tumor recurrence but has little effect on survival, according to a long-term study published Aug. 7 in The Lancet Oncology.
Researchers in Scotland analyzed 30-year updated data from the Scottish Breast Conservation Trial. The trial enrolled 585 breast cancer patients between April 1, 1985, and Oct. 2, 1991, with 291 receiving radiotherapy and 294 receiving no radiotherapy after breast surgery.
Breast tumor recurrence, at a median follow-up period of 17.5 years, was 16% for the group that received radiotherapy and 36% for the group that did not.
There was no difference in overall survival between the two groups. Patients who received radiotherapy had a median survival rate of 18.7 years and patients who did not receive radiotherapy had a median survival rate of 19.2 years, the study's authors said.