Plain-English translation of NCT03488693 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Breast Cancer research guide →Phase 3 — Testing in thousands of people, comparing the treatment against what doctors currently use. This is the last big step before approval.
This trial is asking an important question: do all women with certain types of early-stage breast cancer really need radiation therapy to the lymph node areas after surgery? Some women may be receiving this radiation without actually needing it, which means they experience side effects without getting a benefit. This study randomly assigns women to either receive standard radiation (to the breast or chest wall and surrounding lymph nodes) or skip the lymph node radiation, then follows them over time to see if outcomes are the same.
Doctors have traditionally given radiation to the lymph node areas for many women with node-positive breast cancer, but no one knows for certain whether all patients actually benefit from it. Some women may be getting unnecessary treatment and its side effects without improving their chances of survival. This trial will help doctors figure out which patients truly need this extra radiation and which ones can safely avoid it.
You will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group receives radiation to the breast or chest wall plus the lymph node areas, and the other group receives radiation to the breast or chest wall only (or no radiation if you had a mastectomy). All participants will also receive hormone therapy and possibly chemotherapy as recommended. You will be followed with regular appointments and scans over several years so doctors can monitor whether the cancer returns and compare outcomes between the two groups.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 3, 2026 · Not medical advice
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