Implementation of 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer: Prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implications

Purpose: In March 2020, a 1-week adjuvant breast radiotherapy schedule, 26 Gy in 5 fractions, was adopted to reduce the risk of COVID19 for staff and patients. This study quantifies acute toxicity rates and the effect on linac capacity. Materials and methods: This is a report of consecutive patients...

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Main Authors: K. Nugent, E. Quinlan, S. Cleary, H. O'Driscoll, C. Rohan, J. Trousdell, J. Williams, M. Dunne, O McArdle, F.K. Duane
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-02-01
Series:Breast
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977622002077
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author K. Nugent
E. Quinlan
S. Cleary
H. O'Driscoll
C. Rohan
J. Trousdell
J. Williams
M. Dunne
O McArdle
F.K. Duane
author_facet K. Nugent
E. Quinlan
S. Cleary
H. O'Driscoll
C. Rohan
J. Trousdell
J. Williams
M. Dunne
O McArdle
F.K. Duane
author_sort K. Nugent
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: In March 2020, a 1-week adjuvant breast radiotherapy schedule, 26 Gy in 5 fractions, was adopted to reduce the risk of COVID19 for staff and patients. This study quantifies acute toxicity rates and the effect on linac capacity. Materials and methods: This is a report of consecutive patients receiving ultrafractionated breast radiotherapy ( ± sequential boost) Mar–Aug 2020. Virtual consultations assessed acute skin toxicity during treatment and weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 post treatment using CTCAE V5 scoring criteria. The number of linac minutes saved was estimated accounting for boost and DIBH use. Results: In total, 128/135 (95%) patients, including 31/33 boost patients, completed at least 3/5 assessments. 0/128 (0%) reported moist desquamation not confined to skin folds or minor bleeding (Grade 3), 41/128 (32%) reported brisk erythema, moist desquamation confined to skin folds or breast swelling (Grade 2), 62/128 (48%) reported faint erythema or dry desquamation (Grade 1) as their worst skin toxicity, with the remaining 20% reporting no skin toxicity. The highest prevalence of grade 2 toxicity occurred week 1 following treatment (20%), reducing to 3% by week 4. There was no difference in toxicity between those who received a boost versus not (p = 1.00). Delivering this schedule to 135 patients over six months saved 21,300 linac minutes and 1485 hospital visits compared to a 3-week schedule. Conclusion: Rapidly implementing ultrahypofractionated breast radiotherapy is feasible and acute toxicity rates are acceptable even when followed by boost.
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spelling doaj.art-e5eecf278f704354a810d58ce48223022023-02-11T04:15:08ZengElsevierBreast1532-30802023-02-01675561Implementation of 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer: Prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implicationsK. Nugent0E. Quinlan1S. Cleary2H. O'Driscoll3C. Rohan4J. Trousdell5J. Williams6M. Dunne7O McArdle8F.K. Duane9St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Trinity St James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Corresponding author. St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.Purpose: In March 2020, a 1-week adjuvant breast radiotherapy schedule, 26 Gy in 5 fractions, was adopted to reduce the risk of COVID19 for staff and patients. This study quantifies acute toxicity rates and the effect on linac capacity. Materials and methods: This is a report of consecutive patients receiving ultrafractionated breast radiotherapy ( ± sequential boost) Mar–Aug 2020. Virtual consultations assessed acute skin toxicity during treatment and weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 post treatment using CTCAE V5 scoring criteria. The number of linac minutes saved was estimated accounting for boost and DIBH use. Results: In total, 128/135 (95%) patients, including 31/33 boost patients, completed at least 3/5 assessments. 0/128 (0%) reported moist desquamation not confined to skin folds or minor bleeding (Grade 3), 41/128 (32%) reported brisk erythema, moist desquamation confined to skin folds or breast swelling (Grade 2), 62/128 (48%) reported faint erythema or dry desquamation (Grade 1) as their worst skin toxicity, with the remaining 20% reporting no skin toxicity. The highest prevalence of grade 2 toxicity occurred week 1 following treatment (20%), reducing to 3% by week 4. There was no difference in toxicity between those who received a boost versus not (p = 1.00). Delivering this schedule to 135 patients over six months saved 21,300 linac minutes and 1485 hospital visits compared to a 3-week schedule. Conclusion: Rapidly implementing ultrahypofractionated breast radiotherapy is feasible and acute toxicity rates are acceptable even when followed by boost.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977622002077Breast cancerAdjuvant radiotherapyUltrafractionationAcute toxicityResource implications
spellingShingle K. Nugent
E. Quinlan
S. Cleary
H. O'Driscoll
C. Rohan
J. Trousdell
J. Williams
M. Dunne
O McArdle
F.K. Duane
Implementation of 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer: Prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implications
Breast
Breast cancer
Adjuvant radiotherapy
Ultrafractionation
Acute toxicity
Resource implications
title Implementation of 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer: Prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implications
title_full Implementation of 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer: Prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implications
title_fullStr Implementation of 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer: Prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implications
title_full_unstemmed Implementation of 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer: Prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implications
title_short Implementation of 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer: Prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implications
title_sort implementation of 26 gy in five fractions over 1 week adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer prospective report of acute skin toxicity and consideration of resource implications
topic Breast cancer
Adjuvant radiotherapy
Ultrafractionation
Acute toxicity
Resource implications
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977622002077
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