Neutron Versus Photon Radiotherapy for Local Control in Inoperable Breast Cancer

Abstract

The underlying data indicate that no benefit is to be expected from neutron therapy in breast cancer.

Concurrent Radiotherapy and Taxane Chemotherapy in Patients with Locoregional Recurrence of Breast Cancer

“…The long-term outcome of radiation therapy is unsatisfactory with regard to local control [2,7,17,28]. Hyperthermia or neutron radiotherapy is available at only a few centers, and the moulage technique is suitable only for irradiation of superficial tumors with infiltration depths of only a few millimeters [22]. In agreement with reports in the literature, our data show that R0/1 resection and, accordingly, relatively small tumor size correlate with better long-term control following radiation therapy [6,20].…”

Particle Therapy for Breast Cancer: Benefits and Challenges

“…A randomly controlled trial on locally advanced breast cancer compared neutron with conventional photon irradiation in terms of tumor control and late radiation morbidity. Although no significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups, neutron therapy improved the quality of life due to its shorter treatment duration ( 33 ).…”

Fast Neutron Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment: An Effective Technique Sinking into Oblivion

“…Finally, at the end of the 20th century, because of further technical progresses and a better understanding of fast neutron radiobiology, breast FNT became comparable to photon radiotherapy, in term of skin toxicity. A randomized controlled trial [9] conducted between 1996 and 1999 in South Africa compared FNT with photon radiotherapy in 27 patients with inoperable, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: no increased toxicity risk was observed. Unfortunately, that trial was closed prematurely because of recruitment issues, and it consequently lacked the power to provide evidence for any clinical benefit of FNT over photon radiotherapy.…”