Definitive radiation for breast cancer has traditionally focused on contributing to local control post mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. While systemic therapy options have expanded with advances in breast cancer biology and drug development, the perceived role of radiation has remained fairly static. Over the last several decades, there have been changing approaches to treatment volume (partial breast irradiation) and fractionation (accelerated and hypofractionation) which may improve the convenience and diminish the side effects of treatment.
New radiotherapy techniques offer the possibility of reconsidering the role of radiation in relation to surgical and systemic treatment modalities. Potential areas of investigation include preoperative breast radiation, alone or in combination with systemic agents, to downstage large tumors prior to surgery or replace surgery for smaller tumors. Preoperative approaches may provide opportunities to assess synergy with targeted/immunotherapy agents and assessment of pathologic response. Other areas of interest include SBRT (stereotactic body radiation), accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and novel hypofractionation regimens, which provide a reduction of the target volume and/or treatment duration and may be deployed prior to surgery or systemic therapy.
This Research Topic encompasses new approaches to breast radiotherapy as discussed above. Submitted manuscripts (Original Research, Review, Clinical Trial articles) should address one of the following or a related topic:
1) Preoperative and postoperative partial breast irradiation.
2) Postoperative whole breast hypofractionated radiotherapy.
3) Preoperative SBRT.
4) Preoperative and postoperative hypofractionated boost.
Definitive radiation for breast cancer has traditionally focused on contributing to local control post mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. While systemic therapy options have expanded with advances in breast cancer biology and drug development, the perceived role of radiation has remained fairly static. Over the last several decades, there have been changing approaches to treatment volume (partial breast irradiation) and fractionation (accelerated and hypofractionation) which may improve the convenience and diminish the side effects of treatment.
New radiotherapy techniques offer the possibility of reconsidering the role of radiation in relation to surgical and systemic treatment modalities. Potential areas of investigation include preoperative breast radiation, alone or in combination with systemic agents, to downstage large tumors prior to surgery or replace surgery for smaller tumors. Preoperative approaches may provide opportunities to assess synergy with targeted/immunotherapy agents and assessment of pathologic response. Other areas of interest include SBRT (stereotactic body radiation), accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and novel hypofractionation regimens, which provide a reduction of the target volume and/or treatment duration and may be deployed prior to surgery or systemic therapy.
This Research Topic encompasses new approaches to breast radiotherapy as discussed above. Submitted manuscripts (Original Research, Review, Clinical Trial articles) should address one of the following or a related topic:
1) Preoperative and postoperative partial breast irradiation.
2) Postoperative whole breast hypofractionated radiotherapy.
3) Preoperative SBRT.
4) Preoperative and postoperative hypofractionated boost.
