Evaluation of radiotherapy in high-risk breast cancer patients: report from the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG 82) Trial.

The role of postmastectomy irradiation together with systemic treatment was evaluated in high-risk patients included in the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) protocol 82. As of June 1989, a total of 1473 pre- and menopausal patients were randomized to postmastectomy irradiation + CMF versus CMF alone (protocol 82-b). A total of 1202 postmenopausal patients were randomized to postmastectomy irradiation + Tamoxifen versus Tamoxifen alone (protocol 82-c).

Postmastectomy irradiation in high-risk breast cancer patients. Present status of the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group trials.

All pre- and postmenopausal high-risk breast cancer patients in the protocols DBCG 77 of the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group received postmastectomy irradiation before randomization to either adjuvant systemic therapy or no such treatment. The actuarial loco-regional recurrence rate at 9 years was 6-17%, with the lowest rate in patients who also received additional adjuvant chemotherapy or tamoxifen. In a subsequent study (DBCG 82) the role of postmastectomy irradiation together with systemic treatment was evaluated in high-risk patients.