Objective To evaluate the effect of postmastectomy radiotherapy(PMRT)on the rate of loco-regional recurrence and survival for breast cancer patients undergoing radical mastectomy with one to three positive lymph nodes. Methods The database of Pubmed, Embase, EBM Reviews-Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Chinese Cancer were searched. All randomized controlled trials about postmastectomy radiotherapy on breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive lymph nodes were considered for inclusion. Revman 5.3 was used in the meta analysis. Results Four trials enrolled 1 254 breast cancer women with 1-3 positive lymph nodes were included. The studies were high quality according to the evaluations of the quality criteria. After 10 to 20 years follow-up, the results showed that, 460 patients were analyzed in the result of loco-regional recurrence, the hazard ratio (HR) was 0.23, 95%CI (0.15, 0.37), the result showed statistical difference (P＜0.000 01), and the heterogeneity was existed (P=0.09,I2=59%). One thousand two hundred and fifty-four patients were analyzed in the result of overall survival, theHR was 0.82, 95%CI (0.71, 0.93), the result showed statistical difference (P=0.002 ), and there did not existed heterogeneity (P=0.65,I2=0%). Four hundred and sixty patients were analyzed in the result of metastasis-free survival, theHR was 0.71, 95%CI (0.56, 0.90), the result showed statistical difference (P=0.005), and there did not existed heterogeneity (P=0.63,I2=0%). Nine hundred and seventy-seven patients were analyzed in the result of disease free survival, theHR was 0.74, 95%CI (0.66, 0.85), the result showed statistical difference (P＜0.000 01), and there did not existed heterogeneity (P=0.49,I2=0%). Conclusion Through this systematic review, we consider that postmastectomy radiotherapy could reduce the loco-regional recurrence and increase the overall survival for long-term.
ObjectiveTo understand the progress of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer. MethodThe studies and the treatment guidelines relevant to PMRT in the patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer in recent years were analyzed and summarized. ResultsThe ability of PMRT to improve the prognosis of patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer remained controversial. Owing to the patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer were heterogeneous, and the indications for PMRT had not been standardized. With the increasing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer, some studies had attempted to formulate decisions about PMRT based on changes in tumor characteristics before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but the findings were currently controversial. ConclusionsWhether PMRT can improve prognosis and decision-making for patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer is still controversial. Some ongoing clinical trials may provide some references for the optimal decision-making of PMRT for patients with T1–2N1M0 breast cancer.