Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41658569›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in oncology2025

Can radiotherapy be omitted in T1-2N1 breast cancer patients after mastectomy without neoadjuvant therapy?

Jing Hou, Shuangqiang Qian, Chenyi Liao, Chengwen Wu, Xi Zhang, Yanchun Gao

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jing HouDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College/North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Shuangqiang QianDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College/North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Chenyi LiaoDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College/North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Chengwen WuDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College/North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Xi ZhangDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College/North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Yanchun GaoDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College/North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the necessity of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in patients with T1-2N1M0 breast cancer who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy, by assessing its impact on locoregional recurrence (LRR) and overall survival (OS) in the context of contemporary systemic therapies. This meta-analysis aims to provide updated evidence on whether PMRT can be omitted in this specific population. Methods: Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager version 5.4 software, as recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. HR for LRR and OS were pooled between the PMRT and no-PMRT groups. A fixed-effects model was primarily used, with a random-effects model applied if heterogeneity (I² > 50%) was detected. Bias risk in the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and publication bias was evaluated through funnel plot analysis. Results: In patients with T1-2N1M0 breast cancer, PMRT significantly reduced the risk of LRR (pooled HR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.23-0.53; p<0.001) and improved OS (pooled HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.61-0.69; p<0.001). Subgroup analyses showed consistent benefit for LRR reduction at 5 years (HR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.35-0.56) and 10 years (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.19-0.57; interaction p=0.33). For OS, a significant 5-year survival improvement was observed (HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.59-0.67; p<0.001), but the 10-year benefit was non-significant (HR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.60-1.07; p=0.14). Conclusions: This meta-analysis supports the use of postmastectomy radiotherapy in T1-2N1M0 breast cancer patients, demonstrating its significant reduction in LRR and improvement in OS. Future research should integrate molecular subtypes and dynamic risk models to optimize treatment decisions within contemporary systemic therapy frameworks, and prospective studies are needed to assess the long-term safety of PMRT omission in certain subgroups. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261287168, identifier CRD420261287168.

Indexed as

breast cancerneoadjuvant therapypostmastectomyradiotherapyT1-2N1

Identifiers

PMID41658569
PMCPMC12875952

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.