Overview

• The Import Low trial followed 2,018 women across 30 UK centres for a decade and found a 3% cancer recurrence rate in both partial- and whole-breast radiotherapy groups.
• Patients receiving tumour-focused radiotherapy reported a 15% rate of long-term breast appearance changes versus 27% with whole-breast treatment.
• Publication of the Lancet Oncology results prompted NHS guidelines to adopt partial-breast radiotherapy, making over 9,000 UK women eligible each year.
• Major international bodies including the European Society of Radiation Oncology and ASTRO have endorsed the targeted approach in updated clinical standards.
• Five-session partial-breast schedules have replaced 15-session regimens, cutting treatment time and healthcare costs without compromising outcomes.