Breast Cancer
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Research in Context
Research in Context is a structured summary that editors at The Lancet’s journals ask all authors to provide when submitting an original research article. Read more
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National audit assesses normal tissue doses in breast cancer radiotherapy across England
A large England-wide audit found heart and lung doses were generally within nationally suggested constraints, while identifying inter-centre variation that could inform radiotherapy quality improvement.
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FAST-Forward 10-year outcomes support 26 Gy as international standard for 1-week breast radiotherapy.
Investigators report 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week as effective as 40 Gy in 15 fractions for early breast cancer, with 5-year axillary nodal substudy data reassuring but not powered for efficacy.
CDK4/6 inhibitor meta-analysis: overall survival benefit differed by agent
A reconstructed individual-patient-data meta-analysis of 11 phase 3 trials found overall survival benefit varied across CDK4/6 inhibitors, including immature data for one agent, alongside an overall progression-free survival benefit in HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.
TAKTIC trial explores investigational AKT-blockade triplet therapy in endocrine-refractory HR+/HER2– metastatic breast cancer
Preliminary, hypothesis-generating findings on feasibility, adverse-event profile, and potential biomarker directions for an investigational, non-approved combination.
Axillary surgery solely to guide CDK4/6 inhibitor eligibility in early breast cancer
An analysis combining data from five randomised trials found this use of surgery required a very high number needed to diagnose and treat (106–807) and added morbidity and cost, for only marginal overall survival benefit, the authors report.
HypoG-01: 3-week nodal radiotherapy non-inferior for arm lymphoedema in high-risk early breast cancer
In this phase 3 trial, 40 Gy in 15 fractions was non-inferior to 50 Gy in 25 fractions for ipsilateral arm lymphoedema, with survival outcomes the authors reported as encouraging and to be integrated with efficacy-focused trials.
H&E-based AI model assessed for recurrence score estimation in early breast cancer
A retrospective assessment using randomised trial data to examine chemotherapy-benefit prediction, with prospective and randomised validation still needed to establish clinical utility.
Global estimates point to rising breast cancer burden and persistent disparities
A Global Burden of Diseases analysis of breast cancer from 1990 to 2023, with forecasts to 2050, highlights an escalating burden, especially in low-income and middle-income countries, and geographical disparities in outcomes.
J-START follow-up: adjunctive ultrasound reduced advanced breast cancer incidence, not mortality
In the trial's target population, Asian women aged 40 to 49 years with dense breast tissue, adding ultrasonography to mammography reduced advanced breast cancer incidence for up to 8 years; whether this lowers mortality remains unconfirmed.
TRAIN-3 reports early experience with an investigational MRI-guided approach to chemotherapy duration in HER2-positive breast cancer.
Investigators describe favourable 3-year event-free survival with this trial-based approach, while noting monitoring tools remain limited for hormone receptor-positive disease.