Could breast cancer radiation be cut from weeks to days?

NCT ID NCT00185744

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Stanford University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study is testing whether shorter, more focused radiation treatments after lumpectomy are as safe and effective as the standard six-and-a-half-week course. About 121 women with early-stage breast cancer are receiving one of several accelerated radiation methods, including a single dose during surgery or five-day treatments. Researchers are tracking cancer recurrence, side effects, and cosmetic outcomes through 2029.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Radiation therapy (intra-operative, brachytherapy, external beam, or stereotactic)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer women with early-stage breast cancer a much shorter radiation course after lumpectomy, reducing treatment time from weeks to days.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage study with no phase designation, and results are not yet final. Shorter radiation may not be as effective as standard whole-breast radiation in preventing cancer return.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for BREAST CANCER are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast ductal adenocarcinoma breast neoplasm Carcinoma, Ductal ductal breast carcinoma in situ invasive ductal breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BREAST CANCER CARCINOMA, DUCTAL

Contacts and locations

Locations

Stanford University School of Medicine

Stanford, California, 94305, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.