Shortcomings of the New Study on Breast Cancer Brachytherapy (APBI): What Women Need to Know Now
On December 13, 2011, four of the world’s leading clinical researchers in breast brachytherapy gathered to provide statements and discuss a controversial new study on APBI presented at the 2011 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Featuring:
• Robert Kuske, MD, (Scottsdale, AZ) Co-Principal Investigator, NSABP B-39 study comparing five-day APBI to six-week whole breast irradiation
• Peter D. Beitsch, MD, FACS, (Dallas, TX) Co-Principal Investigator of the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ MammoSite Registry
• Jayant Vaidya, MD, (London, U.K.), pioneer of targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT)
• Rakesh Patel, MD, (Pleasanton, CA), Chairman, American Brachytherapy Society
Stream audio of teleconference
Background:
The study was based on Medicare billing claims for more than 130,000 patients over the age of 66 who were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer between 2000 and 2007 and received a lumpectomy and radiation.
Many members of the medical community have spoken out against the study since it was presented. In particular, many physicians object to mastectomy being considered a validated surrogate for local failure, contending that there are many indications for mastectomy unrelated to APBI, such as a new primary cancer or elsewhere failure, and that claims data do not provide sufficient clinical information to draw such conclusions. In addition, the study claimed brachytherapy was associated with higher rates of infection and increased toxicity which is contrary to results of several published clinical trials on brachytherapy.
Read statements of concern from the major medical societies involved in the research and use of APBI – American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Brachytherapy Society (PDF) and American Society of Radiation Oncology.