Background: Previously, accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using 3D conformal
external beam techniques to deliver 38.5Gy in 10, twice daily, fractions caused worse
fibrosis and cosmetic deterioration than standard whole breast irradiation (WBI) following
breast conserving surgery (BCS) for women with early breast cancer. Over the decade since the
original APBI technique was designed, long-term outcomes of various breast RT fractionation
regimens have become available and suggest that normal tissue fibrosis and cosmesis varies
with the radiobiological constant: α/β=2 rather than α/β=3.4 as previously estimated.
Radiobiologic modeling using α/β=2, indicates that a dose of 27Gy in 5 daily treatments
should result in comparable late effects as 42.5Gy in 16, or 50Gy in 25 fractions. This
clinical trial will validate the safety of a short, convenient and less costly APBI using
27Gy in 5 daily fractions.
Objective: To determine the cosmetic and normal tissue outcomes of APBI using 3D-conformal RT
with 27Gy in 5 fractions over 1 week.
Methods: A single-arm, phase II, non-inferiority, prospective study will be conducted. 274
women with newly diagnosed, invasive or in-situ ductal carcinoma treated with BCS and
sentinel lymph node biopsy (or axillary dissection) who are candidates for WBI alone, will be
treated. Subjects will be age 50 years and older, with tumors less than 3cm diameter, with
negative margins and nodes and with excellent or good baseline cosmetic outcome following
BCS. Patients with extensive ductal carcinoma in-situ, BRCA mutations, Grade 3 cancers with
lymphatic or vascular invasion, or lobular carcinoma will be excluded. These selection
criteria are similar to the Canadian RAPID trial. In the first phase of the study, 150
patients will be recruited and interim analyses will be conducted to rule out unacceptable
toxicity at 2 years.
Study endpoints: The primary endpoint will be the proportion of women who retain an Excellent
or Good cosmetic score at 2 years using the EORTC Cosmetic Rating System and clinical
photographs taken prior to, and at 1 and 2 years after RT. Secondary endpoints will include
rates and grades of breast fibrosis, induration, telangiectasia, breast pain, ipsilateral
breast tumor recurrence, overall and breast cancer-specific survival and subsequent
mastectomy rates.
Sample size, statistical analyses: In the RAPID trial, 88% of patients with Excellent or Good
cosmesis prior to RT had Excellent or Good scores at 3 years. Only patients with
Excellent/Good cosmesis at baseline will be included in the current study. The proportion of
women with Excellent/Good cosmesis at 1 and 2 years will be calculated. Using 80% power, a
non-inferiority margin of 0.08 and a one-sided binomial test for non-inferiority and a
significance level of 0.05, will require a sample size of 249 women with evaluable 2-yr
cosmesis. 274 patients will be recruited to allow for a 10% drop-out rate. To ensure safety,
a first interim analysis with Grade 2 or higher breast fibrosis as the primary endpoint, will
be conducted when 50 patients have completed their 1-year assessment and repeated when 50
patients have completed their 2-year follow up. If the rate of Grade 2 or higher fibrosis
exceeds 5% at either time point, trial accrual will be suspended.
Feasibility: Over 600 women eligible for this protocol receive RT in Alberta each year. If
30% accept study participation, accrual will be complete in <2 years.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Female, with new invasive or in-situ ductal carcinoma of the breast
- Treated with Breast conserving surgery (BCS) with negative margins
- pN0 on sentinel node biopsy or axillary dissection; cN0 if DCIS alone
- Maximum pathologic tumor diameter is 3.0 cm (invasive or DCIS)
- No clinical or imaging evidence of distant metastases
- Age 50 years or older at diagnosis
- No contraindications to breast irradiation
- Excellent or Good overall cosmetic score at baseline following BCS
- Able and willing to provide written informed consent
- Available for 2 year follow up at the treating RT centre
Exclusion Criteria:
- Age < 50 years at diagnosis
- BRCA 1 or 2 pathogenic mutation
- Pathologic tumor diameter >3cm (including DCIS+invasive disease)
- Lobular histology alone
- Triple negative (ER-, PR-, HER2-) or HER2 overexpressing disease
- Margin (other than deep) <2 mm
- Presence of both Grade 3 and lymphatic or vascular invasion
- Fair or Poor overall cosmetic score at baseline following BCS
- Presence of ipsilateral breast implants
- Inability to develop an APBI plan meeting all dosimetry constraints
- Unable to start RT within 16 weeks of BCS or 8 weeks of last iv chemotherapy
- Unable or unwilling to sign informed consent document or attend for 2-year cosmetic
assessment at the treating RT centre
- Potential contraindications for breast RT including a confirmed diagnosis of lupus,
scleroderma, or pregnancy