Read our perspective on the emerging techniques in radiation therapy.
Two main drawbacks of radiation therapy are the frequency and length of the treatment. Treatment is usually given once a day, five days a week, for five to seven weeks. New techniques that shorten the course of treatment are now being studied in clinical trials. The results of the trials will decide whether these therapies become part of standard care.
After talking with your health care provider, we strongly encourage you to consider joining a clinical trial of radiation therapy for breast cancer.
Learn more about clinical trials.
Learn about emerging areas in radiation treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
Accelerated, hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation
Accelerated, hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation is like standard radiation therapy except that it uses a slightly higher dose of radiation per session (hypofractionation). This shortens the course of therapy (accelerated therapy).
Only a few studies have been done on this technique, but results are promising [13-16]. A Canadian randomized controlled trial found that women who got an accelerated three-week course of therapy had the same low of rates of recurrence as those who got the standard five-week course of therapy [15]. The long-term side effects (10 years after treatment) of increasing the dose of radiation per session appeared similar to those with standard radiation [15]. However, the safety and benefits of this technique need to be confirmed by other studies.
Accelerated partial breast irradiation
Accelerated partial breast irradiation delivers radiation only to the area around the tumor bed (the tissue in and around the space where the tumor was removed during lumpectomy). This reduces the number of treatment sessions. While standard radiation therapy is given five days a week for five to seven weeks, accelerated partial breast irradiation is given twice a day for one week.
Accelerated partial breast irradiation can be done by brachytherapy, three-dimensional conformal external beam or by intraoperative radiation therapy. These techniques are still under study.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy uses targeted radiation therapy placed inside the tumor bed. Implanted radiation "seeds" (interstitial radiation therapy) or a single small balloon device (intracavitary radiation therapy) can be used to deliver the radiation.
Because brachytherapy limits radiation to the area around the tumor bed, the course of treatment is only one week.
Some studies have shown that accelerated partial breast irradiation with brachytherapy may be as effective in reducing rates of recurrence as standard radiation therapy [17-20]. However, follow-up time on these studies is short and long-term effects of brachytherapy are not yet known.
Brachytherapy is still under study and is not part of standard care at this time.
Three-dimensional (3D) conformal external beam radiation therapy
Three-dimensional (3D) conformal external beam radiation therapy uses standard external beam radiation to target only the tumor bed. As with brachytherapy, a limited area of the breast receives radiation and treatment can be completed in about one week.
Studies on 3D conformal external beam radiation therapy are limited at this time.
Intra-operative radiation therapy
Intra-operative radiation therapy, a single dose of radiation is given to the tumor bed during breast surgery (lumpectomy). This dose of radiation is higher than in a standard radiation session.
Intra-operative radiation therapy is needs further study before its risks and benefits are known. At this time, it is being studied mainly in Europe.
Our commitment to research
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At Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, we are committed to ending breast cancer forever by energizing science to find the cures and ensuring quality care for all people, everywhere. Our global research and grants programs are essential driving forces for achieving this mission. A Komen for the Cure grant has touched every major breast cancer breakthrough and major scientists of the past 29 years—including three Nobel Prize winners. Funding for discoveries in genetics and biology has evolved into personalized, less invasive treatments for what was once a “one-treatment-fits-all” disease. Learn more about the exciting research we are funding.
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Updated 05/20/11
