Long-term trial challenges assumptions about lymph node radiation therapy in breast cancer

Final results from a landmark EORTC randomized trial with more than 20 years of follow-up show that irradiation of the internal mammary and medial supraclavicular lymph nodes reduces breast cancer mortality but does not improve overall survival. The findings highlight the importance of very long-term follow-up when evaluating cancer treatments, particularly in patients with an otherwise favorable prognosis.