Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy Works in Fewer, But Higher Doses

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After a median follow-up of about five years, the rate of tumor recurrence was about equivalent in the two groups. There also seemed to be fewer adverse effects in the groups receiving the lower total dosage.

The second trial, known as START B, involved 2,215 women, again with early breast cancer, who were randomly assigned after surgery to receive the conventional, higher dose of radiation or to receive fewer, larger fractions. The conventional arm received their therapy over five weeks while the second group received theirs over three weeks.

This time, after a median follow-up of six years, the rate of tumor recurrence was 2.2 percent in the group receiving a smaller total dose of radiation, versus 3.3 percent in the conventional-treatment arm.

More information

For more on breast cancer treatment, visit the U.S. National Cancer Institute.