Aim: To assess local control and cosmetic outcomes for two different hypofractionated radiotherapy schedules after breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Patients and methods: A total of 113 breast-conserving operated patients with DCIS were treated from August 2006 to August 2011: 41 women received 46 Gy in 20 fractions of 2.3 Gy four times a week, for five weeks; the other 72 patients received 39 Gy in 13 fractions of 3 Gy four times a week for 3.5 weeks. Both schedules involved a concomitant boost to the tumor bed, with dose adjustment according to the surgical margins.
Results: The median follow-up is 30.5 months. Overall, the treatments were well-tolerated. The most common acute effect was erythema: grade 1 in 56.1% and 31.9% in the longer and in the shorter hypofractionated treatment, grade 2 in 9.8% and 0% of cases respectively. Late toxicity of fibrosis occurred at grade 1 in 19.6% and 15.3% respectively and at grade 2 in 0% and 2.8%.
Conclusion: These results suggest that patients with DCIS can be safely treated with a shorter radiotherapy regimen.
Keywords: Breast cancer; ductal carcinoma in situ; hypofractionated radiotherapy.