A major UK clinical trial is testing whether some people with breast cancer can safely complete radiotherapy, including an additional targeted dose to the tumour site, in five days instead of the current three-week schedule.
The FAST-Forward Boost trial, led by The Institute of Cancer Research in London and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has enrolled more than 1,000 participants across 39 hospitals and cancer centres in the United Kingdom, according to an announcement published on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The study is investigating whether a shorter treatment schedule can provide comparable protection against cancer returning without causing unacceptable side effects. It builds on earlier research showing that a five-day course of breast radiotherapy can be as effective as a longer course for appropriate patients. However, the additional targeted radiation boost requires further evaluation.
Under the trial, participants are assigned to one of three treatment approaches. One group receives the current schedule of 15 daily treatments over three weeks, while the other groups receive different five-day treatment schedules that incorporate the boost dose.
Researchers will compare the treatments by assessing cancer recurrence, side effects such as tiredness and skin changes, patients’ quality of life and the financial impact on both patients and the National Health Service.
The shorter approach could reduce the number of hospital visits, travel expenses and time patients need away from work or family responsibilities. It could also help free up radiotherapy capacity for other people who need cancer treatment.
The trial aims to recruit 4,830 participants by 2028, with patients followed for five years and results expected in 2033. Until the study establishes whether the shorter schedule is as safe and effective for patients who require the additional boost, the approach remains under investigation for this specific treatment group.
The research follows the success of the earlier FAST-Forward trial, which found that a five-day course of radiotherapy after surgery was as effective as the traditional three-week schedule for suitable patients with early breast cancer. That established approach is already used in clinical practice for eligible patients.
The new study seeks to determine whether the benefits of shorter treatment can also be extended to patients who need the additional targeted dose. Researchers say the findings could help shape future breast cancer care by reducing the burden of treatment while maintaining effective control of the disease.
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