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Radiotherapy in the postoperative treatment of operable cancer of the breast. Part II. A re‐examination of Stjernswärd's application of the mantel‐haenszel statistical method. Evaluation of the effect of the radiation on immune response and suggestions for postoperative radiotherapy
Author(s) -
Levitt Seymour H.,
McHugh Richard B.,
Song Chang W.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197702)39:2+<933::aid-cncr2820390732>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , radiation therapy , mastectomy , statistical significance , statistical analysis , mammary gland , statistical evidence , cancer , surgery , oncology , statistics , null hypothesis , mathematics
A re‐examination of the statistical methods used to develop the claim that radiation postoperatively decreases survival was carried out. This study demonstrates that a) when correct figures are used, statistical significance is not demonstrated, i.e. there is not statistically significant evidence that irradiation of the peripheral lymphatics and/or chest wall following mastectomy has a deleterious effect on survival, b) the use of the Mantel‐Haenszel procedure was inappropriate for the purpose for which it was used. A survey of the available evidence fails to substatiate the claim that the immunological system effects of local irradiation relate in any way to decreased survival. Recommendations for the use of irradiation postoperatively in the treatment of breast cancer are made.