Dr. Jagsi on the Adoption of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, associate professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Health System, discusses an analysis of the adoption of hypofractionated radiotherapy for early-stage invasive breast cancer.

There was an increase in the utilization of hypofractionated radiotherapy in this space over the years studied. However, the most recent data collected as part of this analysis (2009-2010) showed the rate of hypofractionated radiotherapy was only 14%.

There could be several reasons that may be contributing to this low rate of adoption. Over the time period studied, evidence was accumulating and practitioners may have been waiting for results, Jagsi says. As a profession, she admits, oncologists can be slow and measured in the adoption of evidence.

Jagsi says she was concerned by the more rapid adoption of intensity-modulated radiation therapy over the same period. This therapy is more costly and has less strong evidence to support its benefit.