Background: Radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery is a standard part of treatment for
invasive breast cancer [12].. The authors found that delay in radiotherapy after surgery translated to increase in
local recurrence.
Methods: This study included included 46 female patients with stage II-III (31patient stage II and15 Stage III)
breast cancer who underwent conservative surgery. Then received 4 cycles of (AC) of doxorubicin (60 mg/ m2)
and cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2) intravenously every 21 days followed by 4 cycles of paclitaxel (175 mg/m2)
intravenously over3 h, with actual body weight used to calculate surface area. Paclitaxel was administered every
21 days beginning 21 to 28 days after the fourth cycle of AC. Radio- therapy was delivered concurrent with the
first 2 cycles of paclitaxel, with Day 1 of radiation coinciding with Day 1 of Cycle 1 of paclitaxel.
Results: Median age was 48 years: 60% of patients was the most common one. Invasive ductal carcinoma was reported in 94% and hormone receptors were positive
in of p78.26% of patients. After median follow-up of 25 months, 2 year DFS was 93.5%, all patients were alive
and ipsilateral local recurrence was reported in 2.2% only. 50% and 19.6% had Grade I and II acute skin toxicity
respectively. At 12 months, grades (I) were reported as(26%) and no grade II skin toxicity was observed.
telangiectasia, (34.7%) Grade I and completely disappeared after 24 month. Hyperpigmentation (6.5%, ) Grade I.
and also completely disappeared after 24 month. (Subcutaneous fibrosis, and lymphedema (13%-19.6 )
respectively while at 24 months grade II only reported as 6.5%lymphedema. Acute radiation pneumonitis
reported as 8.7%grade I and 4.3% grade II while chronic pulmonary fibrosis reported as 6.5% grade I and 2.2%
grade II. Only 1 patients (8.%) developed more than 10% drop in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Conclusion: The results of our study suggest there are no increased acute or late toxicities with comparable
DFS and local control rates affiliated. with the concurrent use of radiotherapy with paclitaxel as prescribed .Large
randomized trials and long term follow up are needed to confirm these favorable findings .