RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute Researchers Contribute to Study

New Brunswick, N.J. November 3, 2026– For women with breast cancer who undergo a mastectomy, radiation therapy can be an important part of treatment. However, radiation can also increase the risk of complications for patients who choose to have breast reconstruction. A new study found that a shorter, three-week course of radiation therapy is a safe alternative to the traditional five-week treatment schedule for women undergoing breast reconstruction, potentially allowing patients to complete treatment sooner.

The study, which included nearly 900 women, builds on earlier research conducted at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Jersey's only National Cancer Institute (NCI)- Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, where a smaller clinical trial helped lay the groundwork for the larger national study. Bruce Haffty, MD, associate Vice chancellor for Cancer Programs at Rutgers Cancer Institute and an investigator on both studies, shares more insight on the findings and their potential implications for breast cancer patients. The paper was published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (DOI: 10.1200/JCO-26-00474).

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What were the key findings of this study, and why are they important for women undergoing breast cancer treatment?

Over the past decade, there have been several studies demonstrating that moderate hypofraction (i.e. 3-week course of radiation therapy instead of a 5–6-week course of radiation therapy) may be acceptable for post-mastectomy radiation. This study was important as it randomized patients not only who needed post-mastectomy radiation but also had reconstruction and required radiation to the chest wall and all the regional lymph nodes. It showed in a nation-wide randomized study that the 3-week approach was safe and effective in this group of patients and not inferior to the 5-week approach.

How did the earlier research conducted at Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health contribute to this study?

A prior study at Rutgers Cancer Institute helped to form the basis of this study. Our Phase 2 study, published several years ago in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed a shorter course of radiation was safe. However, that study was smaller and not randomized, but suggested that a larger randomized study should be launched. The original Rutgers Cancer Institute trial and investigators were all involved in designing and developing the current randomized trial.

What could these findings mean for breast cancer patients and their treatment options moving forward?

For patients requiring post-mastectomy radiation, with or without reconstruction, the 3-week regimen of radiation should be considered as an acceptable standard. It is important, however, to note that there are many situations where the longer course of radiation may be preferable, depending on a number of factors and the radiation oncologist, along with the patient and other physicians should consider all of these factors when choosing the most appropriate post-mastectomy radiation approach.

To learn more about the comprehensive radiation oncology services and advanced treatment options available at RWJBarnabas Health, including innovative technologies and personalized approaches to cancer care, click here.

Other authors include: Matthew M. Poppe, MD, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah; Jennifer J. Le-Rademacher, PhD, Alliance Statistics and Data Management Center, Mayo Clinic; Eric K. Hansen, MD, The Oregon Clinic; Jayant P. Agarwal, MD, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah; Jamie L. Wagner, DO, University of Kansas; Iwa Kong, MD, FRCPC, MSc, BC Cancer–Vancouver Centre; Jane M. Armer, PhD, University of Missouri; Doug W. Arthur, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System; Timothy J. Whelan, BM, BCh, McMaster University; Odum Kour, MS, Alliance Statistics and Data Management Center, Mayo Clinic; Minji K. Lee, PhD, Alliance Statistics and Data Management Center, Mayo Clinic; Kathryn J. Ruddy, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic; Ann H. Partridge, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Lisa A. Carey, MD, University of North Carolina; Maryam Lustberg, MD, Yale Cancer Center; Michael B. Bernstein, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Selina L. Chow, MD, Alliance Protocol Operations Office, University of Chicago; Shane R. Stecklein, MD, PhD, University of Kansas; David K. Gaffney, MD, PhD, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah; and Atif J. Khan, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.