• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 1985

Radiation Therapy(RT) has been used in the treatment of breast cancer for over 80 years. Technically, it should include a part or all of such areas as chest wall or breast, axilla, internal mammary nodes(IM) and supraclavicular nodes (SCL). Authors tried three-field technique for the treatment of breast cancer using 6 MV linear accelerator, exclusively the department of Radiology, Kang-Nam St. Mary's Hospital, at Catholic Medical College. The field junction was checked by a phantom study and radiation doses measured by film densitometry and TLD. The 3 fields we used in this study were two isocentric opposing tangential fields encompassing the breast, chest wall and occasionally IM and one single anterior field encompassing the axilla and SCL. Using appropriate beam blocks and blouses, we were able to avoid unwanted intrinsic divergency of photon beam. Blocking also enabled us to set-up precise radiation field with ease.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.303-309
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• 1984

Radiation therapy(RT) has been used in the treatment of breast cancer for over 80years. Technically, it should include a part or all of such areas as chest wall or breast, axilla, internal mammary nodes (IM) and supraclavicular nodes (SCL). Authors tried three-field technique for the treatment of breast cancer using 6-MV linear accelerator, exclusively the department of radiology. Kang-Nam St. Mary's Hospital, at Catholic Medical College. The field junction was checked by a Phantom study and radiation doses measured by film densitometry and TLD. The 3 fields we used in this study were two isocentric opposing tangential fields encompassing the breast, chest wall and occasionally IM and one single anterior field encompassing the axilla and SCL. sing appropriate beam blocks and boluses, we were able to avoid unwanted intrinsic divergency of photon beam. Blocking also enabled us to set-up precise radiation field with ease.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.67-70
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• 1994

The use of primary breast irraditation with advantage of improved cosmesis in breast cancer may be the potential risks of radiation for a change in the number of normal breast cancers and lung fibrosis. The magnitude of the scattered dose for a variety of radiation treatment techniques from patient of breast cancer and phantom was measured by adequate dosimeters. We can reduce the dose of the normal breast to treated with radiation by understanding the factors contributing to the unwanted dose and by determining ways to decrease this dose.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2013

Purpose: To observe long-term clinical outcomes for patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with forward intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), including local control and clinical toxicities. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 214 patients with stage I-II breast cancer who were treated with breast conserving surgery followed by adjuvant breast radiation therapy between 2001 and 2008. All patients were treated using forward IMRT. The whole breast was irradiated to a dose of 50 to 50.4 Gy followed by an 8 to 12 Gy electron boost to the surgical bed. Results: The median age was 46 years (range, 21 to 82 years) and the medial follow-up time was 7.3 years (range, 2.4 to 11.7 years). Stage T1 was 139 (65%) and T2 was 75 (35%), respectively. Ipsilateral breast recurrence was observed in 3 patients. The 5- and 10-year local control rates were 99.1% and 97.8%, respectively. The cosmetic outcome was evaluated according to the Harvard scale and 89.4% of patients were scored as excellent or good. Conclusion: The whole breast radiation therapy as an adjuvant treatment using a forward IMRT technique showed excellent long-term local control as well as favorable outcomes of toxicity and cosmesis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3911-3916
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• 2016

Background: Triple negative (TN) and triple positive (TP) breast cancers both are aggressive types but TN generally has a shorter survival. Objectives: To compare the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes for patients with TN versus TP breast cancer and to assess various prognostic factors affecting overall survival. Materials and Methods: A retrospective audit of 85 breast cancer patients was conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology on patients from 2006 to 2013 for whom IHC for ER, PgR and Her-2 neu were available. The patients were stratified into: ER-, PR- and Her-2 neu- (Arm A, n=47) and ER+, PgR+ and Her-2 neu+ (Arm B, n=38). Results: TN subtype had higher numbers of premenopausal and advanced stage patients as compared to TP subtype. The locoregional recurrence (LRR) and distant metastatic rate was also higher in TN subtype but there was no definite pattern in both the arms. Among the prognostic factors, patients with premenopausal status and advanced stage in TN breast cancer had inferior survival (P=0.07) whereas for those with postmenopausal status and early stage there was no survival difference between the two arms. Conclusions: TN subtype tends to be more aggressive in terms of younger age and advanced stage at presentation, higher tumour grade, LRR and metastasis, suggesting need for future research efforts on providing aggressive treatment to these patients. We could attribute better outcome for TP subtype to receptor positivity enabling role of hormonal treatment and targeted therapy, although less number of patients received targeted therapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.124-131
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• 2012

Purpose: To determine whether triple negative (TN) early stage breast cancers have poorer survival rates compared with other molecular types. Materials and Methods: Between August 2000 and July 2006, patients diagnosed with stage I, II early stage breast cancers, in whom all three markers (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor [HER]-2) were available and treated with modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of 446 patients, 94 (21.1%) were classified as TN, 57 (12.8%) as HER-2 type, and 295 (66.1%) as luminal. TN was more frequently associated with young patients younger than 35 years old (p = 0.002), higher histologic grade (p < 0.0001), and nuclear (p < 0.0001). The median follow-up period was 78 months (range, 4 to 130 months). There were 9 local relapses (2.0%), 15 nodal (3.4%), 40 distant metastases (9.0%), and 33 deaths (7.4%) for all patients. The rates of 5-year OS, DFS, LFS, and DMFS for all patients were 95.5%, 89.9%, 95.4%, and 91.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in OS, DFS, LFS, and DMFS between triple negative and other subtypes (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We found that patients with TN early stage breast cancers had no difference in survival rates compared with other molecular subtypes. Prospective study in homogeneous treatment group will need for a prognosis of TN early stage breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3747-3750
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• 2013

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of conservative surgery plus chemo-, radio-therapy in treating patients with early stage breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Eligible patients were treated by postoperative chemotherapy as well as whole-breast irradiation with tumor bed boost. Postoperative radiotherapy consisted of 6 MV whole breast linear accelerator irradiation with two tangential half fields to a total dose of 45~50 Gy, followed by $10{\sim}15MeV{\beta}$ boost irradiation to tumor bed for 10~20Gy, total dose 56~66Gy. Results: Fifty-two patients were enrolled. Overall 1-, 2- and 3 year survival rates were 98.1%, 92.3%, and 90.4%, respectively, with a local recurrence rate of 5.77%. Cosmetic results were evaluated as good by doctors in 90.4% of patients. Conclusions: Breast conservative surgery combined with chemo- radio-therapy could be a treatment option for Chinese patients with early stage breast cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.228-233
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in breast tumor bed volume during whole breast irradiation (WBI). Materials and Methods: From September 2011 to November 2012, thirty patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by WBI using computed tomography (CT) simulation were enrolled. Simulation CT scans were performed before WBI (CT1) and five weeks after the breast irradiation (CT2). The tumor bed was contoured based on surgical clips, seroma, and postoperative change. We retrospectively analyzed the factors associated with tumor bed volumetric change. Results: The median tumor bed volume on CT1 and CT2 was 29.72 and 28.6 mL, respectively. The tumor bed volume increased in 9 of 30 patients (30%) and decreased in 21 of 30 patients (70%). The median percent change in tumor bed volume between initial and boost CT was -5%. Seroma status (p = 0.010) was a significant factor in tumor bed volume reduction of 5% or greater. However, patient age, body mass index, palpability, T stage, axillary lymph node dissection, and tumor location were not significant factors for tumor bed volumetric change. Conclusion: In this study, volumetric change of tumor bed cavity was frequent. Patients with seroma after BCS had a significant volume reduction of 5% or greater in tumor bed during breast irradiation. Thus, resimulation using CT is indicated for exquisite boost treatment in breast cancer patients with seroma after surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2007

Purpose: Try to compare dose distribution and lung dose of radiation treatment plan of the breast cancer that used Irregular Surface Compensator (ISC) and treatment plan that used a wedge filter. Materials and Methods: Established a treatment plan to be distributed over 95% of prescription dose (5,040 cGy) of the two tangent-half fields that used a wedge filter and ISC at a breast organization as made to breast cancer patient having an irregular surfaces after surgery. Compared high dose area and DVH, and verified a treatment plan as used film with rectangular phantom. Results: Maximum dose point in breast tissue appeared to 107.5% in case of tangent-half fields Tx plan that used a wedge filter, and lung volumes exposed above 20 Gy by 7.63%. In case of ISC, maximum dose point in breast tissue appeared to 106.4%, and lung volumes exposed above 20 Gy by 6.5%. The film measurement results that used phantom, 105$\sim$110% high dose region was distributed to the upper part and both edges of phantom. However in case of ISC, appeared by 100$\sim$105% dose conformity distribution. Conclusion: In general, the Irregular Surface Compensator (ISC) can improve the dose conformity of breast tissues, as well as reduced hot spots in the lung and in the breast. Such an advantage by using ISC technique is more beneficial for patients who have more irregular surfaces after surgery.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.10-13
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• 2023

Patients with breast cancer can be positioned with their head turned to the contra lateral side or with their head straight during the radiation therapy treatment set-up. In our hospital, patients with locally advanced breast cancer who were receiving radiation therapy have experienced swallowing difficulty after 2 weeks of irradiation. In this pilot study, the impact of head position on reducing dysphagia occurrence was dosimetrically evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups viz., HT (head turned to the contra lateral side of the breast) and HS (head straight) with 10 members in each. Treatment planning was performed, and the dosimetric parameters such as Dmin, Dmax, Dmean, V₅, V₁₀, V₂₀, V₃₀, V₄₀, and V₅₀ of both groups were extracted from the dose volume histogram (DVH) of esophagus. The target coverage in the supraclavicular fossa (SCF) region was analyzed using D₉₅ and D₉₈; moreover, the dose heterogeneity was assessed with D₂ from the DVHs. The average values of the dose volume parameters were 27.6%, 58.6%, 35.4%, 19%, 13.8%, 14.1%, 11.8%, 8.4%, and 8.1% higher in the HT group compared with those in the HS group. Furthermore, for the SCF, the mean values of D₉₈, D₉₅, and D₂ were 42.4, 47.5, and 54 Gy, respectively, in the HS group and 38.9, 45.35, and 55.5 Gy, respectively, in the HT group. This pilot study attempts to give a solution for the poor quality of life of patients after breast radiotherapy due to dysphagia. The findings confirm that the head position could play a significant role in alleviating esophageal toxicity without compromising tumor control.