New Trial Exploring a Less Invasive Option for Early-Stage Breast Cancer
TRACE (Trials Research and Clinical Evidence Unit) will coordinate a randomized clinical trial evaluating a shorter radiation treatment approach for patients with high-risk early-stage breast cancer.
The study is funded by a $3 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and is led by Drs. Elysia Donovan, Tim Whelan, Sameer Parpia, and Mark Levine. The multicentre trial will bring together investigators across Canada to evaluate whether a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) can safely replace the current standard sequential boost approach following breast-conserving surgery.
What the study will look at
Patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery typically receive whole-breast irradiation over five treatments in one week. Those at higher risk of cancer recurrence also receive an additional "boost" to the surgical site, extending treatment by another week.
This trial will compare the current two-week treatment approach with a one-week regimen that delivers the boost at the same time as whole-breast irradiation using simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technology. The study will randomize patients with high-risk early-stage breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ to receive either SIB over five treatments or the standard sequential boost over 10 treatments. Researchers will evaluate whether the shorter treatment is as effective at preventing local recurrence while also assessing side effects, cosmetic outcomes, quality of life, disease-free survival, and overall survival.
Why it matters
If the shorter treatment proves to be as effective as the current standard, it could reduce treatment time by one week for of patients, improving convenience while reducing treatment-related toxicity and lowering costs for both patients and the healthcare system. The findings have the potential to establish a new standard of care for high-risk early-stage breast cancer across Canada and beyond.