Cyberknife After Breast Conservative Surgery

The large majority of local recurrences in breast cancer after breast conserving treatment are close to the original tumor site. This evidence suggested to restrict the radiotherapy target to the surgical cavity in selected patients. Consequently, shorter fractionation strategies focused only on tumor bed with a small cuff of surrounding subclinical disease, i.e. accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), were developed. Stereotactic radiotherapy was thought, consisting of a short course of intense treatment focused on the target tissue. There is very little experience with CiberKnife for early breast cancer until now. This study is a prospective non-randomized study designed to assess the acute, sub-acute, late toxicity, cosmesis and globally the feasibility of CyberKnife (CK-APBI). From June 2013 to June 2018 we are going to enroll 80 patients considered eligible for the present study. All patients will be followed for at least 2 years. A first enrollment of 20-25 patients is scheduled as first assessment. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be aided to mammography and ultrasound examination for confirming the best selection of patients. For the assessment of acute toxicity, cosmetic results by three different observers (physician, patient, external observer), medium term and late toxicity, patients were evaluated and the results recorded immediately before and after radiotherapy, then after 1 month, three, six, nine, and twelve, and twenty-four months. The toxicity will be correlated to the main radiotherapy treatment dosimetry and delivery recorded.