Accelerated Hyperfractionation of Radiotherapy for Rapidly Growing Inoperable Breast Cancer Unresponsive to Chemotherapy

Abstract

Eleven patients with rapidly growing inoperable breast carcinoma were treated with a thrice-a-day fractionation of 1.2 Gy per fraction (5-h intervals, 15 fractions per week). Nine of them had been considered as non-responders to previous aggressive multidrug chemotherapy. A split of 2 weeks was inserted after 54 Gy, and radiation fields were then restricted to the clinical positive area up to a total tumor dose of 90 Gy. Nine of 11 patients completed their treatment, and 7 of them were considered as complete responders. Acute toxicity was surprisingly low (grade I-II). Four patients surviving 12-18 months after radiotherapy did not relapse and did not present any late complications. A favorably improved quality of life was obtained for all 9 patients.