[Preliminary results of the randomized trial "The role of adjuvant radiotherapy in organ-preserving treatment of breast cancer"].

The study included 360 patients (reproductive, aged < or = 55 yrs, and postmenopausal, aged > 55 yrs) with T1-2N0M0 breast tumors under 2.5 cm (1985-1996), to assess the role of postoperative radiotherapy in the course of organ-saving treatment. It was found that radiotherapy leads to a significant decrease in the risk of local recurrence in postmenopausal patients. It was also followed by higher 5-year recurrence-free survival (96 vs. 83% in control, p > 0.05), while, in postmenopause, it was 100 vs. 88% in control (p < 0.05), after detection of a second primary cancer in the treated breast. Thus, radiotherapy was shown to prevent secondary tumor in the treated breast. However, no correlation between recurrence rate in the scar area and standard radiotherapy was observed when standard quadrantectomy left a wide margin (2 cm and more). No correlation was registered between recurrence- or metastasis-free and overall survival in both groups of patients either, when regional metastasis areas were irradiated.