Pattern of practice of re-irradiation for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence in Italy: a survey by the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO)

Abstract

Purpose: The Re-irradiation and the Breast Cancer Working Groups of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) conducted a survey to provide an overview of the policies for breast cancer (BC) re-irradiation (re-RT) among the Italian radiotherapy (RT) centers.

Methods: In October 2021, 183 RT centers were invited to answer a survey: after an initial section about general aspects, the questionnaire focused on radiation oncologists' (ROs) attitude toward re-RT in three different scenarios: ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) treated with second conservative surgery, IBTR treated with mastectomy and inoperable IBTR. Surveyed ROs were also asked to express their interest in being involved in a prospective trials.

Results: Seventy-seven/183 (42.0%) centers answered the Survey, only one RO per center was requested to answer. In particular, 86.5% ROs declared to have performed "curative" re-RT for IBTR during the previous two years (2019-2020): 76.7% respondents administered re-RT after second BCS, 50.9% after mastectomy, and 48.1% for inoperable IBTR. Re-RT practice varied widely among centers in terms of treatment volumes, dose and fractionation schedules, techniques and dose-volume constraints for organs at risks (OARs). Forty-six participants (59.7%) expressed their interest in participating in a prospective study investigating BC re-RT.

Conclusions: About one out of three RT centers in Italy delivered re-RT for IBTR. Nevertheless, practice of re-RT varied widely among centers highlighting the needs for prospective studies to improve knowledge in this field.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence; Re-irradiation; Survey.