Feasibility of Concurrent Radiotherapy and Paclitaxel-Based Chemotherapy after Conservative Surgery for Breast Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: Our prospective phase II trial aims to show the feasibility of adjuvant paclitaxel-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) following doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) to get the survival benefit of taxanes addition and avoid delay of radiotherapy. Patients and Methods: A total of 63 patients with pT1-2, and pN1-3, M0 breast cancer underwent conservative surgery followed by adjuvant 4 cycles AC followed by 4 cycles Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Adjuvant radiotherapy started during the first and second cycle of paclitaxel (CCRT). Toxicities evaluated at the base time, weekly during radiation therapy and every 3 months for 24 months for skin, pulmonary, cardiac, lymphedema, subcutaneous fibrosis and cosmoses. Survival reported at 2-year median follow-up. Results: At median follow up time of 24 months (6 - 30), we did not report any toxicity postpone or stop treatment and only two patients had grade III acute dermatitis. Fifty-two patients (82.5%) had satisfactory cosmoses and none of the patients developed local recurrence. Conclusion: Three-weekly paclitaxel during radiotherapy is considered safe without significant complications and acceptable cosmoses with excellent local control and could be considered to avoid radiotherapy delay.