The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has issued a new clinical guideline for whole-breast radiation therapy in breast cancer.
The new guideline increases the scope of patients eligible for hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (WBI), according to the society. It now recommends accelerated radiation treatment for patients with breast cancer regardless of patient age, tumor stage, and previous exposure to chemotherapy. In addition, the guideline offers advice on dosing, planning, and delivering WBI, including for any "boost" of radiation therapy.
Backing for the guideline stems from a systematic literature review of 100 studies published between 2009 and 2016. The analysis was conducted by a 15-member task force comprising radiation oncologists who specialize in breast cancer, a medical physicist, and a patient representative, ASTRO said.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) have also endorsed the guideline, which is available at ASTRO's Practical Radiation Oncology journal website.
