Palliative radiotherapy for breast cancer patients with skin invasion: a multi-institutional prospective observational study

Purpose: To clarify the efficacy of palliative radiotherapy for the relief of symptoms due to skin invasion in patients with breast cancer. Materials and methods: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective observational study of patients who received palliative radiotherapy for skin invasion due to a primary lesion or chest wall recurrence. Bleeding/discharge, offensive odor, pain and QOL scores were evaluated before and 1, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy. Results: Twenty-one patients were assessed. Sixteen patients (76%) received 36 Gy in 12 fractions. The mean (+/- 1 SD) score of bleeding/discharge was 1.90 +/- 0.89 before radiotherapy, 1.50 +/- 0.74 at 1 month, 0.47 +/- 0.58 at 3 months, and 0.82 +/- 1.04 at 6 months (P = 0.001). The mean score of offensive odor was 1.21 +/- 1.38 before radiotherapy, 0.71 +/- 0.92 at 1 month, 0.20 +/- 0.41 at 3 months, and 0.27 +/- 0.62 at 6 months (P = 0.008). The mean score of pain was 2.90 +/- 1.22 before radiotherapy, 3.05 +/- 1.36 at 1 month, 3.29 +/- 1.10 at 3 months, and 3.31 +/- 1.54 at 6 months (P = 0.431). The mean total score of QOL-ACD/QOL-ACD-B was 126.2 +/- 24.5 before radiotherapy, 130.3 +/- 26.3 at 1 month, 136.2 +/- 26.6 at 3 months, and 126.6 +/- 32.8 at 6 months (P = 0.178). Conclusion: Palliative radiotherapy for skin invasion in patients with breast cancer might be effective, especially for the relief of bleeding/discharge and offensive odor.