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NSABP B-39: Whole Breast Irradiation (25 treatments in 5 weeks) versus Partial Breast Irradiation (10 treatments in 5 days) Is Partial Breast Irradiation Standard of Care? March 13, 2006--Hollywood, FL--New guidelines for breast cancer treatment relegate the use of partial breast irradiation--a procedure in which intensive, short-term radiation is concentrated in the tumor bed--to an experimental status. "Partial breast irradiation should only be performed as part of a high quality prospective clinical trial", said Benjamin Anderson, MD, Director, Breast Health Center, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Washington, United States. "Whole breast irriation with boost (by photons, brachytherapy of electon beam) remains the standard of care", Dr. Anderson said during a presentation on March 10 at the 11th annual conference of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). " We understand that the partial breast irradiation procedure is exciting and appears to have some benefit," Dr. Anderson said. "However, the panel did not feel that the evidence is sufficiently mature to include it as an option in the recommendations" as standard of care.
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Breast Cancer Clinic
