Background We assess complication rates in node negative breast cancer patients treated with breast radiotherapy (RT) only after sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Materials and Methods Between 1995 and 2001, 226 women with AJCC stage I-II breast cancer were treated with lumpectomy, either SLND or SLND+ALND, and had available toxicities in follow-up: 111/136 (82%) and 115/129 (89%) in SLND and ALND groups, respectively. RT targeted the breast to median dose of 48.2Gy (range, 46.0-50.4Gy) without axillary RT. Chi-square tests compared complication rates of two groups for axillary web syndrome (AWS), seroma, wound infection, decreased range of motion (ROM) of the ipsilateral shoulder, paresthesia, and lymphedema. Results Median follow-up was 9.9 years (range, 8.3 -15.3 years). Median number of nodes assessed was 2 (range, 1-5) in SLND and 18 (range, 7-36) in ALND (p<0.0001). Acute complications occurred during the first 2 years and were AWS, seroma, and wound infection. Incidences of seroma 5/111 (4.5%) in SLND and 16/115 (13.9%) in ALND (p<0.02, respectively) and wound infection 3/111 (2.7%) in SLND and 10/115 (8.7%) in ALND (p<0.05, respectively) differed significantly. AWS was not statistically different between the groups. At 10-years, the only chronic complications were decreased ROM of the shoulder 46/111 (41.4%) in SLND and 92/115 (80.0%) in ALND (p<0.0001), paresthesia 12/111 (10.8%) in SLND and 39/115 (33.9%) in ALND (p<0.0001), and lymphedema assessed by patients 10/111 (10.0%) in SLND and 39/115 (33.9%) in ALND (p<0.0001). Chronic lymphedema, assessed by clinicians, occurred in 6/111 (5.4%) in SLND and 21/115 (18.3%) in ALND cohorts, respectively (p<0.0001). Conclusion Our mature findings support that in patients with negative axillary nodal status SLND and breast RT provide excellent long-term cure rates while avoiding morbidities associated with ALND or addition of axillary RT field.

OBJECTIVE To examine the rates of long-term biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) with respect to isotope in intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy. METHODS A total of 242 consecutive patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer were treated with iodine-125 (125I) or palladium-103 (103Pd) implants after EBRT (range 45.0–50.4 Gy) from 1996 to 2002. Of the 242 patients, 119 (49.2%) were treated with 125I and 123 (50.8%) with 103Pd. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze BRFS, defined according to the Phoenix definition (prostate-specific antigen nadir plus 2 ng/mL) with respect to Gleason score, stage, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, and source selection. Late genitourinary/gastrointestinal toxicities were assessed using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer scale. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 10 years, the BRFS rate was 77.3%. A statistically significant difference was found in the 10-year BRFS rate between the 125I- and 103Pd-treated groups (82.7% and 70.6%, respectively; P = .001). The addition of hormonal therapy did not improve the 10-year BRFS rate (77.6%) compared with RT alone (77.1%; P = .22). However, a statistically significant difference in the BRFS rate was found with the addition of hormonal therapy to 103Pd, improving the 10-year BRFS rate for (73.8%) compared with 103Pd alone (69.1%; P = .008). On multivariate analysis, isotope type (103Pd vs 125I), pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level > 10 ng/mL, and greater tumor stage increased the risk of recurrence by 2.6-fold (P = .007), 5.9-fold (P < .0001), and 1.7-fold (P = .14), respectively. CONCLUSION 125I renders a superior rate of BRFS compared with 103Pd when used with EBRT. Hormonal therapy does not provide additional benefit in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with a combination of EBRT and brachytherapy, except for the addition of hormonal therapy to 103Pd.

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