Early and late normal-tissue injury after postmastectomy radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy

The authors report results from a series of patients treated with postmastectomy radiotherapy (RT) combined with cyclophosphamide (CTX) alone or in combination (CMF) with methotrexate (MTX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Both adjuvant systemic therapies increased the frequency of acute skin reactions. The occurrence of distinct subcutaneous fibrosis was used as a late normal-tissue endpoint. The probability of developing this complication after a specific course of radiotherapy was significantly increased in patients receiving RT+CMF, whereas no significant increase was observed after RT+CTX. (author)