IMPORT LOW

Randomised trial testing intensity modulated and partial organ radiotherapy following breast conservation surgery for early breast cancer.

Treatment Modality:

Status: In follow-up

What is the study about?

IMPORT LOW investigates whether a more targeted type of radiotherapy for people with early breast cancer can reduce side effects without reducing how well the treatment works.

After people have surgery to remove breast cancer, radiotherapy treatment is normally given to the whole breast. This can cause long term side effects in the surrounding non-cancerous tissue due to radiation exposure.

Cancer is most likely to return in the area of the breast closest to the site of the original tumour. If the cancer has a low overall risk of returning, based on analysis of the tissue removed at surgery, it may be possible to give radiotherapy focused on the area where the cancer was, reducing the amount of radiotherapy given to the rest of the breast.

IMPORT LOW is investigating whether targeting the highest dose of radiotherapy at the site of the cancer will be as good at preventing cancer from returning as treating the whole breast. The trial will also investigate the impact of reducing the area receiving the high dose radiotherapy on long term side effects and breast appearance.

Who is included in the study?

People with low risk breast cancer who were recommended a course of radiotherapy after surgery were included in IMPORT LOW. 2,018 people joined the study from 71 NHS hospitals across the UK.

What are the study treatments?

IMPORT LOW included three treatment groups:

Standard treatment - fifteen daily doses of radiotherapy given to the whole breast over three weeks
Test group one – fifteen daily doses of radiotherapy over three weeks, with the standard dose given to the area where the cancer was and a lower dose given to the rest of the breast.
Test group two - fifteen daily doses of radiotherapy over three weeks, with the standard dose given to the area where the cancer was and no radiotherapy to the rest of the breast.

Participants have regular check ups during and after their treatment and we collect information about how they are getting on until the study is completed.