Thailand Doctors Find That Breast-Conserving Therapy Offers Long-Term Survival for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 09, 2025 1 month, 4 days, 8 hours, 38 minutes ago
Thailand Doctors: A Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Treatment in Thailand
In a significant breakthrough for breast cancer treatment, researchers from Chiang Mai University in Thailand have discovered that breast-conserving therapy (BCT) offers superior long-term survival rates compared to mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer (EBC) patients. The study, conducted by a team of
Thailand Doctors from the Division of Head, Neck, and Breast Surgery and the Clinical Surgical Research Center at Chiang Mai University, provides compelling evidence supporting the effectiveness of BCT, particularly for patients with HER2-enriched and triple-negative breast cancer subtypes.
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Thailand Doctors Find That Breast-Conserving Therapy Offers Long-Term Survival for Early-Stage
Breast Cancer Patients
The Study and Its Objectives
This Medical News report highlights a retrospective study that analyzed data from 1,330 patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. The patients were treated at Chiang Mai University Hospital between 2004 and 2015, with data drawn from the Chiang Mai Cancer Registry. The primary aim of the study was to compare the long-term survival rates of patients who underwent BCT combined with radiotherapy versus those who had a full mastectomy.
Researchers used statistical analysis, including Kaplan - Meier survival methods and propensity score matching, to ensure balanced comparisons between patient groups. The results overwhelmingly favored BCT, showing significantly higher survival rates at 5, 10, and 15 years post-treatment compared to mastectomy.
Key Findings: The Superiority of Breast-Conserving Therapy
The study found that:
-The 15-year overall survival rate for patients undergoing BCT was 80.01%, compared to 64.33% for those who had a mastectomy.
-In HER2-enriched breast cancer patients, the 15-year survival rate was 92.44% for BCT, versus only 59.61% for mastectomy.
-Among triple-negative breast cancer patients, the survival rate at 15 years was 78.13% for BCT, compared to 65.30% for mastectomy.
-Even after adjusting for factors like age, tumor size, and nodal involvement, BCT continued to show a statistically significant survival advantage.
These findings are crucial as HER2-enriched and triple-negative breast cancers have traditionally been associated with aggressive disease progression and lower survival rates. The study suggests that, when combined with radiotherapy, breast-conserving therapy provides better long-term outcomes than mastectomy.
Understanding the Science Behind BCT's Success
One of the key reasons for BCT’s success may be the impact of radiotherapy, which plays a crucial role in reducing local recurrence and eliminating microscopic cancer cells that might remain post-surgery. Unlike mastectomy, which removes the entire breast, BCT retains as much of the natural breast tissue as possible while ensuring thorough cancer treatment through radiation
.
Another important aspect is patient selection. The study found that patients undergoing BCT tended to be younger and had smaller tumors, factors that might contribute to better overall outcomes. Additionally, access to anti-HER2 therapies was limited during the study period, meaning that patients who received BCT may have benefited more from radiotherapy and localized treatment effects.
Implications for Treatment Guidelines in Thailand and Beyond
This study reinforces the growing global consensus that breast-conserving therapy, when paired with radiotherapy, is at least as effective as mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer - and in many cases, even better. The findings align with international research trends that have increasingly shown that less invasive treatment does not compromise survival outcomes.
For Thailand, these findings could have significant implications for breast cancer treatment protocols. Many patients and even some medical practitioners still view mastectomy as the safest option for treating early-stage breast cancer. However, this study challenges that perception and highlights the importance of personalized treatment decisions based on cancer subtype and individual patient factors.
The Need for Further Research and Accessibility to Advanced Therapies
While the study strongly supports the use of BCT over mastectomy, it also underscores the need for improved access to advanced cancer treatments in Thailand. Specifically, targeted therapies like trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer should be made more widely available to ensure that all patients receive the most effective treatment possible.
Future studies should also explore the role of newer radiotherapy techniques and advancements in systemic therapies in improving survival rates even further. Multi-institutional studies across Thailand and Southeast Asia would help validate these findings and guide treatment policies in the region.
Conclusion
This study provides compelling evidence that breast-conserving therapy offers superior survival outcomes compared to mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer patients, especially those with HER2-enriched and triple-negative breast cancer. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized treatment approaches and highlight the role of radiotherapy in improving long-term survival rates. As Thailand continues to advance in cancer research and treatment, these insights could play a crucial role in shaping future guidelines for breast cancer management.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Cancers.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/17/4/591
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