A research team from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presented a new study at the ESTRO 2026 cancer congress in Stockholm, according to Newswise.
The researchers examined a combination of hormone therapy and targeted radiation treatment.
According to the researchers, modern radiation technology has become more precise, making it possible to deliver stronger treatment in fewer sessions.
At the same time, doctors now know more about which types of breast cancer respond best to specific treatments.
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Selected patients
The study included 20 patients with early-stage hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
All patients first received hormone therapy for three months, followed by five sessions of high-dose radiation treatment.
The researchers found that some patients responded particularly well to the treatment.
Smaller tumors and high sensitivity to estrogen appeared to be important indicators of a positive outcome.
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The researchers emphasized that the treatment was only tested on a small and carefully selected group of patients.
Could avoid surgery
After more than three years of follow-up, the results showed that patients with a complete response to the treatment had no signs that the cancer had returned.
This means that some patients in the trial were able to avoid surgery entirely.
However, the researchers believe that larger studies are needed before the treatment can be used more widely.
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Sources: Newswise and ESTRO 2026.