Acute toxicity of concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy(CAF or TE) in breast cancer patients

Objective The concurrent administration of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in breast cancer were used and acute toxicity were observed.Methods Twenty-four patients were treated with concurrent radiation and either CAF(17 patients) or TE(7 patients).Toxicity was assessed by the RTOG scale for acute effects.Results Three patients experienced grade 3 acute skin toxicity and had radiation therapy interruptions for a median of 5 days(3～7 days).One patient treated with TE initially was later switched to CAF due to paclitaxel intolerance(bilateral extremity neuropathy).No case of pneumonitis was seen.Conclusion Concurrent treatment radiotherapy with CAF/TE was well tolerated.Additional study is needed to determine optimal timing,long-term survival and toxicity.