Dr. Vicini on Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation in Low-Risk Breast Cancer

Frank A. Vicini, MD, radiation oncologist, 21st Century Oncology of Michigan, discusses a European study that examined the efficacy of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) versus conventional whole breast irradiation (WBI) in patients with low-risk breast cancer.

The multicenter European noninferiority phase III study demonstrated noninferiority of APBI compared with WBI for select patients with early-stage breast cancer. It is also the first large trial that addresses this topic, Vicini adds. Patients were closely followed, and techniques were done consistently.

Data from this study show that the paradigm for treating these select patients should change in centers beyond Europe, Vicini explains.