Palliative Radiotherapy for Symptomatic Primary Tumors in Patients With Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer remains a significant health concern for women, with a significant number of women facing unresectable, symptomatic, and advanced disease that severely affects their quality of life. Palliative radiotherapy (RT) is a well-established modality for managing such cases and alleviating symptoms. Recent advancements in systemic therapies and the resulting increase in long-term survival rates have not only heightened the need for retreatment in certain patients, but have also emphasized the importance of achieving durable local control. Additionally, inconsistencies in RT referral timing and variations in disease severity and extent contribute to diverse RT objectives and expected outcomes. The optimal dose fractionation for RT remains underexplored. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of breast radiobiology, along with the introduction of ultra- and moderately hypofractionated regimens and the widespread adoption of conformal techniques such as intensity-modulated RT, has diversified the approaches in RT dose and target volume. This review aimed to provides a comprehensive summary of the current evidence on the efficacy, outcomes, and toxicity profiles of palliative RT for symptomatic breast cancer. It highlights the need for more optimized regimens and further research to address the evolving treatment landscape and differing expectations of patients and physicians regarding RT.