IMPORT HIGH

Disease site: Breast Cancer

Treatment Modality: Radiotherapy

Status: Open to recruitment

Randomised trial testing dose escalated intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for women treated by breast conservation surgery and appropriate systemic therapy for early breast cancer. IMPORT HIGH

IMPORT HIGH tests dose escalated radiotherapy (RT) treatment delivered using  IMRT in a group of women with early breast cancer who are at higher than average risk of local tumour recurrence. The trial compares the standard RT treatment for this group of women (RT treatment to the whole breast, 15 fractions over 3 weeks followed by a sequential boost dose to the tumour bed for a further 8 fractions over 1.6 weeks, a total of 23 fractions over 4.6 weeks) with two different test arms delivering varying doses of RT across the breast with concomitant boost dose to the tumour bed a total of 15 fractions over 3 weeks. The varying doses of RT across the breast in the test arms reflect the fact that the risk of true local recurrence is highest in the area of the breast close to the site of the original tumour. The trial tests whether this different delivery of RT treatment will reduce the side effects of radiotherapy whilst maintaining or increasing cancer cure.

IMPORT HIGH opened in January 2009 and entered the first patient in March 2009. The total accrual will be 840 which we aim to achieve by February 2012.