5-Year Outcomes of a Randomized Trial Comparing Prone and Supine Whole Breast Irradiation in Large-Breasted Women

Abstract

Purpose: Prone position for whole breast irradiation (WBI) results in lower rates of toxicity and reduced ipsilateral mean lung and heart doses. No randomized trials comparing toxicity and cosmesis at 5 years with prone and supine positioning are available.

Methods and materials: In this phase 2 open-label trial, 100 patients with large breast size requiring WBI were randomized between prone and supine positioning. Physician-assessed toxicity (retraction, fibrosis, edema, telangiectasia, pigmentation changes) was scored yearly for a total of 5 years, and photographs were taken at 5 years to assess cosmesis. The data were analyzed longitudinally and cross-sectionally.

Results: Longitudinal analysis shows lower grade 2 late toxicity with prone positioning. The results for at least grade 1 physician-assessed toxicity at 5 years are similar between supine and prone position, respectively, for retraction (56% vs 54%), fibrosis outside the tumor bed (33% vs 24%), tumor bed fibrosis (49% vs 46%), edema (11% vs 8%), telangiectasia (8% vs 3%), and breast pain (6% vs 8%) using cross-sectional analysis. However, the risk of pigmentation changes in prone position (0% vs 19%) 5 years after radiation therapy was significantly lower. Cosmesis was good or excellent in 92% and 75% of patients who used prone and supine positioning, respectively. The 5-year overall survival is 96% in both groups.

Conclusion: Prone positioning results in reduced rates of late toxicity.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00887523.