Diagnosis
Targeted radiotherapy cuts breast cancer side effects
Targeted radiotherapy is as effective as full-breast treatment for low-risk breast cancer but causes fewer side effects, a decade-long UK study has found.
Partial-breast radiotherapy, which directs radiation only to the area around the tumour rather than the entire breast, reduced long-term complications while maintaining a 3 per cent recurrence rate.
More than 9,000 women in the UK each year—about one in four patients needing radiotherapy after surgery—could benefit from the approach.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Cancer Research followed over 2,000 women at 30 radiotherapy centres in the UK for 10 years as part of the IMPORT LOW trial.
The trial compared three techniques: whole-breast radiotherapy, partial-breast radiotherapy, and partial-breast radiotherapy with a reduced dose to tissue further from the tumour.
All three were equally effective at preventing cancer recurrence.
Only 15 per cent of those treated with partial-breast radiotherapy reported noticeable changes in breast appearance at five years, compared with 27 per cent who received whole-breast treatment.
Professor Charlotte Coles is professor of breast cancer clinical oncology at the University of Cambridge and chief investigator of the study.
The researcher said: “The IMPORT LOW trial has transformed how we treat early breast cancer, offering women a safer and effective option while significantly reducing some side effects.
“By targeting the area around the tumour, rather than the whole breast, we have demonstrated that patients can achieve the same outstanding long-term outcomes with fewer complications.
“This approach is now widely adopted across the NHS, sparing thousands of women from unnecessary radiation exposure.
“The results of this study have not only shaped UK clinical practice but also informed international guidelines, ensuring that women worldwide benefit from this personalised, evidence-based treatment.”
Following the trial’s success, partial-breast radiotherapy has been integrated into NHS guidelines and endorsed by the Royal College of Radiologists and the Association of Breast Surgery.
Since 2020, it has been delivered in five sessions instead of 15—making it less burdensome for patients and reducing cost.
The IMPORT LOW findings have also helped shape international guidelines, including those published in 2022 by the European Society of Radiation Oncology and in 2023 by the American Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology.
Dr Dani Edmunds, research information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “This study shows that we can safely reduce the amount of radiotherapy we give to many women with early breast cancer without increasing the risk of the disease coming back.
“This means people experience fewer long-term side effects, like changes in how their breasts look or feel, making the treatment kinder.
“At Cancer Research UK, we’ve been investigating the use of radiotherapy in cancer medicine for more than 100 years, but it’s far from old-fashioned. This work shows how research is continuing to refine, improve and innovate the treatment so people can live longer, better lives.”
Experts estimate that between 25 and 30 per cent of breast cancer patients are eligible for partial-breast radiotherapy, and that approximately 74,000 women have already benefited from it.
The FDA has delayed approval of camizestrant while it reviews new analyses submitted by AstraZeneca after advisers voted against the breast cancer drug.
The US regulator had been considering whether to approve the oral treatment after a phase 3 switching study in a specific group of breast cancer patients.
Camizestrant is an oral SERD, or selective oestrogen receptor degrader. These drugs are designed to block and break down oestrogen receptors that can help some breast cancers grow.
AstraZeneca filed for approval based on the phase 3 Serena-6 trial, which tested a treatment-switching approach.
Patients in the study received an aromatase inhibitor and a CDK4/6 inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors lower oestrogen levels, while CDK4/6 inhibitors are targeted cancer drugs that help slow cancer cell growth.
After detecting an ESR1 mutation, investigators switched the aromatase inhibitor to camizestrant.
An ESR1 mutation is a change in a gene linked to the oestrogen receptor. It can make some breast cancers less responsive to standard hormone treatments.
AstraZeneca said switching to camizestrant was linked to a 56 per cent increase in progression-free survival.
Progression-free survival measures how long a patient lives without their disease getting worse.
However, the FDA raised questions about the study design.
An FDA advisory committee later voted six to three that AstraZeneca had failed to show camizestrant provides a clinically meaningful benefit.
The vote was a setback for the company’s hopes of approval, although the FDA can go against advisory committee recommendations.
After the setback, AstraZeneca submitted additional analyses requested by the FDA.
The company said the analyses include data on circulating tumour DNA clearance linked to longer-term efficacy outcomes.
Circulating tumour DNA refers to fragments of genetic material from cancer cells that can be found in the blood.
AstraZeneca is expected to share the data next week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting.
The FDA has now delayed its ruling while it reviews the additional information. AstraZeneca did not provide a new decision date.
Three-month delays are typical and, during the second Trump administration, have been common.
After budget cuts reduced its workforce, the FDA delayed rulings on assets including Bayer’s Lynkuet, Biohaven’s troriluzole and Sanofi’s tolebrutinib. The FDA reportedly blamed a “heavy workload and limited resources” for one delay.
The agency has continued to delay rulings this year, with Biogen, Savara and Travere Therapeutics among the companies to say the FDA has extended reviews of their drugs.
Like AstraZeneca, those three companies faced delays after submitting additional information that the agency needed time to review.
If the additional analyses address the regulator’s concerns, AstraZeneca could still secure approval for a drug it has estimated could generate peak sales of more than US$5bn.
Guggenheim Securities analysts recently described the Serena-6 study as “a limited commercial opportunity in our and [AstraZeneca’s] view”.
AstraZeneca is also running two adjuvant studies and a trial in a first-line setting as it seeks to position camizestrant across different stages of breast cancer care.
Adjuvant treatment is given after primary treatment, such as surgery, to reduce the risk of cancer returning. First-line treatment is the first therapy given for a disease.
Roche reported the failure of its rival oral SERD in first-line breast cancer in March, but AstraZeneca executives have argued that their trial designs and drug candidate are different.
Last week, Europe’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use issued a positive opinion on camizestrant.
The drug is expected to be marketed as Etcamah in Europe.
The NHS has been urged to update its website after PCOS was renamed PMOS, or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome.
Last week, the condition, thought to affect about one in eight women, was given a new name after a 14-year effort involving medical experts, charities and women with lived experience of the disorder.
However, the NHS website contains no mention of the new name or any change to the information provided about the condition.
Neelam Heera-Shergill, chief executive and founder of the charity Cysters, urged action.
She said: “As an organisation rooted in reproductive and health justice, we welcome conversations around language that better reflect the realities and experiences of those living with PMOS/PCOS. But any name change must go beyond symbolism.
“Communities deserve clear, accessible and timely information so people are not left confused, excluded or struggling to access support and diagnosis.
“We hope to see the NHS move quickly to update information and public-facing resources in a way that is inclusive, culturally competent and centred on the needs of the communities most impacted.
“For many people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds who already face barriers within healthcare, clarity and visibility can make a real difference in accessing the rightful care and support they need.”
However, Caroline Andrews, a trustee of the charity Verity, said the announcement of the new name came with a three-year transition period.
She added that the NHS is going through many changes, with a new health secretary recently announced after the resignation of Wes Streeting.
In addition, 2026 has seen the launch of the renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, while the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is expected to publish the first standalone guidelines for PMOS/PCOS later this year.
Andrews said: “We fully appreciate that they [the NHS] need transition time just like we do, just like many other organisations do.
“And we’d much rather the NHS do this carefully and thoughtfully, considering this in placement with all the lines of care, such as the fact the Nice guidelines are coming through, and how this is fitting with the delivery of care.”
Prof Channa Jayasena, an expert in reproductive endocrinology at Imperial College London, welcomed the name change.
He said: “I think it’s a tremendous initiative, and I think it’s a great step forward in trying to help women and clinicians understand the full breadth of the seriousness [of the] condition.”
But he added that the shift has only just occurred, with professional societies around the world meeting to inform their members about the change.
He said: “There’s a long history of many conditions sometimes still being called outdated things by clinicians because it takes a while for the workforce to be updated and upskilled.
“And I can guarantee you, not all doctors know about this at the moment, and therefore not all patients will.
“So I think it’s a great move in the right direction, which shows where we should be going.
“But professional societies which have webpages, obviously patient support groups, and the NHS will, I fully expect, over the next year or two, be updating all their websites.”
However, Dr Sophie Williams of the University of Derby and an expert on PCOS/PMOS and mental health said the three-year transition for the name change could cause confusion.
She said: “When you go on the NHS website and it’s still [saying] polycystic ovaries, PCOS… as a member of the public, that might make you question the legitimacy of the information you’re getting.
“[The NHS website] is one of the first places any person might think to go to for health care advice that is rigorous, that is reliable. So from my perspective, I do think that the sooner the better.”
Williams said one option would be to run two shadow webpages that link together, one for PCOS and one for PMOS, or to include text on the current page referring to the name change and noting that information is being reviewed.
An NHS spokesperson said: “We routinely review and update content on the NHS website to ensure it reflects the latest clinical advice and will carefully consider these recommendations.
“The NHS will also continue our work to improve women’s healthcare, including for this important group, which involves giving women more choice over their care, bringing down waiting times, and delivering more care in communities.”
Only one per cent of women can name all five gynaecological cancers, new research suggests, as 21 women in the UK die every day of the diseases.
The report also found that 31 per cent of women have put off or avoided seeking medical advice for gynaecological symptoms.
It also found that 43 per cent of women invited for cervical screening said barriers had put them off attending, while 18 per cent of respondents aged 25 to 34 who had been invited had never attended.
The five main gynaecological cancers are womb, also called uterine, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal cancer.
The Lady Garden Foundation said that, while progress has been made since the UK government’s 2022 Women’s Health Strategy aimed to improve gynaecological cancer care, significant challenges remain.
John Butler, medical director and trustee at the Lady Garden Foundation, said: “The fact that only one per cent of the population can name the diseases that directly affect half of us underscores a significant awareness gap, impacting individuals’ ability to recognise vital signs and symptoms or seek timely medical help.
“Addressing this isn’t just about awareness; it’s a critical public health priority. Our collective efforts are essential to ensure the latest commitments announced by this government translate into tangible change that saves lives.”
The report said key reasons for delaying medical advice included difficulty making appointments, embarrassment and, for cervical screening, fear of pain or previous bad experiences.
Women also reported challenges within healthcare interactions, including feeling “not taken seriously”, “dismissed” or “not believed” when seeking gynaecological advice.
Jenny Halpern Prince, chief executive and charity co-founder, said: “We frequently hear reports of women feeling ‘not taken seriously,’ ‘dismissed,’ or ‘not believed’ when seeking gynaecological advice.
“These experiences highlight crucial areas where we can improve patient support and trust within our healthcare system, ensuring women receive the empathetic and effective care they need.”
The Lady Garden Foundation said it aims to increase awareness of both the charity and the five gynaecological cancers.
It also aims to serve as a primary entry point for reliable, stigma-free information, helping people understand their bodies, recognise symptoms and overcome barriers to accessing care.
Its Silent No More Garden was unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. Designed by Darren Hawkes, the garden serves as a national call to action, using five sculptures to spark conversations, break long-standing taboos and encourage open dialogue about symptoms and preventative care.
Butler said: “Continued focus and collaborative action are essential to progress.
“The ongoing commitment from the government, alongside societal efforts to break down taboos surrounding gynaecological health, are crucial.
“The Lady Garden Foundation is dedicated to being a beacon of information and support, empowering women with the knowledge they need. We urge everyone to learn the signs, speak up, and help us save lives.”
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