Overview of randomized trials of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer
Cuzick, J.; Stewart, H.; Peto, R.; Baum, M.; Fisher, B.; Host, H.; Lythgoe, J.P.; Ribeiro, G.; Scheurlen, H.; Wallgren, A.
Cancer Treatment Reports 71(1): 15-29
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0361-5960 PMID: 2856861 Document Number: 296660
An overview of the mortality results of the mature trials in which radiotherapy was a randomized option after simple or radical mastectomy is presented. The principal aim of the overview was to study long-term survival, and recent trials, often including chemotherapy options, have not been included. A total of 7941 patients were entered into these trials and 4148 deaths occurred. No differences were found in survival in the first 10 years of follow-up, in trials employing either radical mastectomy or simple mastectomy. Follow-up information after 10 years came mostly from trials employing radical mastectomy with or without irradiation, and in these trials a significant excess of deaths was observed among patients given radiotherapy (P less than 0.001, all trials; P = 0.002, radical mastectomy trials only). Further data collection will be necessary to determine which causes of death are elevated.