CAPECITABINE EFFICACY WITH ADJUVANT RADIOTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF EARLY STAGE BREAST CANCER (RETROSPECTIVE STUDY)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assuit, Egypt

2 Radiotherapy Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assuit, Egypt

Abstract

Objectives: Our goal is to assess the effectiveness and toxicity of capecitabine as radio-sensatizer with adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer (BC) patients. Methods: On the radiation days, the patients got capecitabine 825 mg/m2 every 12 hours with a 25% dosage reduction if creatinine clearance was lower than 30 ml/min with radiation therapy of dose of 4240 cGy administered in 16 fractions at a rate of 2.65 Gy each over the course of three weeks. In addition, a boost dose of 14 Gy administered in 7 fractions was added to the lumpectomy bed. Results: Study group were evaluated at 3, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. At 3 and 12 months, 29 patients (61.7%) exhibited G1 skin hyperpigmentation. At 60-month, 3 patients (7.5%) had G2 lymphedema (p = 0.226). At 24th month, 4 patients (9.3%) had G1 telangiectasia, 5 patients (11.6%) developed G1 skin fibrosis (p = 0.001).  Moreover, one patient (2.3%) experienced a G1 cardiac event (p = 0.416). At 3 month radiation pneumonitis G1 was identified in 3 patients (6.4%) (p = 0.416). Despite the fact that 6 patients (15%) developed distant metastases, there were no instances of local recurrence. the OS rate was 85.1%. Conclusion: Adjuvant radiation combined with capecitabine is well tolerated and effective

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