Sentinel Node Positive Breast Cancer Research Articles

A Patient- and Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial of Axillary Reverse Mapping (ARM) in Patients with Early Breast Cancer

Background: Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer patients is infamous for its accompanying morbidity. Selective preservation of upper extremity lymphatic drainage and accompanying lymph nodes crossing the axillary basin - currently resected during a standard ALND - has been proposed as a valuable surgical refinement. Methods: Peroperative Axillary Reversed Mapping (ARM) was used for selective preservation of upper extremity lymphatic drainage. A multicentre patient- and assessor-blinded randomised study was performed in clinical node negative, sentinel node positive early breast cancer patients. Patients were randomized to undergo either standard-ALND or ARM-ALND. Primary outcome was the presence of surgery-related lymphedema at six, 12 and 24 months post-operatively, measured by the water displacement method. Secondary outcomes included patient reported and objective signs and symptoms of lymphedema, pain, paraesthesia, numbness, loss of shoulder mobility, quality of life and axillary recurrence risk. Results: No significant differences were found between both groups using the water displacement method with respect to measured lymphedema. ARM-ALND resulted in less reported complaints of lymphedema at six, 12 and 24 months postoperatively (p<0.05). Postoperative numerical differences of arm/shoulder pain, necessity to wear a compressive arm sleeve favouring ARM-ALND were only significant at six months (p=0.039 and p=0.043 respectively) as compared to 24 months (p=0.076 and p=0.066). No axillary recurrence was found in both groups. Interpretation: In contrast to results of volumetric measurement, patient reported outcomes support selective sparing of the upper extremity lymphatic drainage using ARM as valuable surgical refinement in case of ALND in clinically node negative, sentinel node positive early breast cancer. If completion ALND in clinically node negative, sentinel node positive early breast cancer is considered, selective sparing of upper extremity axillary lymphatics by implementing ARM should be carried out in order to reduce morbidity. Trial Registration Number: The trial is registered in the Dutch trial registration (TC 3698). Funding Statement: Pink Ribbon foundation (currently KWF) and the Maurits and Anna the Kock foundation Declaration of Interests: The authors have no financial of non-financial competing interest to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval for this study was provided by the medical ethics committee (METC) of Maxima Medisch Centrum, Veldhoven, The Netherlands. Informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to the operation. This study was carried out in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration.

Trends on Axillary Surgery in Nondistant Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated Between 2011 and 2015: A Dutch Population-based Study in the ACOSOG-Z0011 and AMAROS Era.

To evaluate patterns of care in axillary surgery for Dutch clinical T1-4N0M0 (cT1-4N0M0) breast cancer patients and to assess the effect of the American College for Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)-Z0011 and After Mapping of the Axilla: Radiotherapy Or Surgery (AMAROS) trial on axillary surgery patterns in Dutch cT1-2N0M0 sentinel node positive breast cancer patients. Since publication of the ACOSOG-Z0011 and AMAROS trial, omitting a completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) in sentinel node positive breast cancer patients is proposed in selected patients. Data were obtained from the nationwide Nationaal Borstkanker Overleg Nederland breast cancer audit. Descriptive analyses were used to demonstrate trends in axillary surgery. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with the omission of cALND in cT1-2N0M0 sentinel node-positive breast cancer patients. Between 2011 and 2015 in cT1-4N0M0 breast cancer patients, the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy as definitive axillary staging increased from 72% to 93%, and (c)ALND as definitive axillary staging decreased from 24% to 6% (P < 0.001). The use of cALND decreased from 75% to 17% in cT1-2N0 sentinel node-positive patients (P < 0.001). Earlier year of diagnosis, lower age, primary mastectomy, invasive lobular subtype, increasing tumor grade, and treatment in a nonteaching hospital were associated with a lower probability of omitting cALND (P < 0.001). This study shows a trend towards less extensive axillary surgery in Dutch cT1-T4N0M0 breast cancer patients; illustrated by an overall increase of sentinel lymph node biopsy and decrease in cALND. Despite this trend, particularly noticed in cT1-2N0 sentinel node-positive patients after publication of the ACOSOG-Z0011 and AMAROS trial, variations in patterns of care in axillary surgery are still present.

Different radiation techniques to deliver therapeutic dose to the axilla in patients with sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer: Doses, techniques challenges and clinical considerations

PurposeTo evaluate the coverage of different levels of axillary lymph nodes and organs at risk according to the field design of AMAROS study (levels I–II–III–IV), breast tangents with supraclavicular and infraclavicular fields (levels II–III–IV) and high tangent fields to the breast after breast-conserving surgery. Materials and methodsWe delineated the axillary lymph nodes levels I–IV in 34 patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph nodes biopsy. Field design according to AMAROS study – levels I–IV in patients without axillary dissection – as well as irradiation of levels II–IV used in N+ patients after axillary dissection, and also high tangent fields was simulated. Mean dose levels and volumes covered by 95% or 80% isodoses were evaluated. Doses to ipsilateral lung, heart and brachial plexus were compared. Paired t test was used. ResultsAMAROS study and levels II–IV plans delivered therapeutic dose to high axilla (levels II–IV), but the high tangent fields showed inefficacy to cover these volumes, P<0.001). In terms of organs at risk, especially, ipsilateral lung, AMAROS study plan was found to significantly increase the volume receiving at least 10Gy (I–IV:46.8%, II–IV: 39%), but also the volume receiving at least 20Gy (I–IV: 39.3%, II–IV: 31.3%), and V30Gy (I–IV: 34.2% vs II–IV: 26.1%), as well as the mean dose (I–IV: 18.6Gy, II–IV: 15.2Gy, P<0.001). ConclusionsThe omission of axillary dissection and the axilla irradiation need is associated with high dose irradiation of the lungs, and with higher toxicity. The indication of axillary dissection or irradiation of low axilla could be individualized in relation with individual comorbidities and factors of risk.

Extranodular extension in sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer might predict further initiation of completion axillary lymph node dissection

Extranodular extension in sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer might predict further initiation of completion axillary lymph node dissection

Which patients with sentinel node-positive breast cancer after breast conservation still receive completion axillary lymph node dissection in routine clinical practice?

In the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z0011 trial, patients with 1 or 2 tumour-involved sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) gained no benefit from completion axillary lymph dissection (cALND). We examined implementation of evidence from this trial into routine clinical management. Data were included from patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer in German breast cancer units between 2008 and 2015 and analysed retrospectively from a prospective maintained database. Descriptive analyses assessed time-trend changes in axillary surgery. Factors associated with cALND in patients with 1 or 2 positive SLNs were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Overall, 179 breast cancer units provided data for 188,909 patients, of whom 13,741 (7.3%) had pT1/2cN0M0 invasive breast cancer with 1 or 2 tumour-involved SLNs and underwent breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. cALND use decreased from 94.6% in 2008 to 46.9% in 2015 (p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, the following factors were associated with cALND: fewer removed SLNs; two tumour-affected SLNs; younger age; lower annual case volume per hospital; higher tumour grade and lymphovascular invasion. No statistically significant influence was detected for hormone receptor or HER2 status. In our cohort, 7.3% of patients with primary breast cancer met the ACOSOG Z0011 inclusion criteria and could potentially have been spared the morbidity of cALND. cALND tended to be performed in patients with a higher axillary tumour burden. This study shows a shift towards less extensive axillary surgery through rapid implementation of new clinical trial evidence into routine clinical practice.

Therapeutic effect of axillary lymph node dissection and local radiotherapy on patients with stage I-II sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer

Objective To compare the recurrence rate and survival rate of axillary lymphadenectomy and axillary local radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ breast cancer who were positive for sentinel lymph node biopsy. Methods A retrospective analysis of 137 patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ breast cancer who were positive for sentinel lymph node biopsy from January 2010 to July 2015 in Yulin First Hospital was performed. Patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after breast-conserving surgery were assigned to the ALND group (n=92), patients with axillary local radiotherapy (RNI) after breast-conserving surgery were assigned to the RNI group (n=45), and the general clinical characteristics (mean age, menopause, clinical stage, etc.) were compared between the two groups, and prognosis (2-year recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate, cumulative 2-year event-free survival, cumulative 2-year overall survival). Measurement data were expressed as (±s), and t test was used for comparison between groups; count data was expressed as rate (%), and chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Results There were no statistical differences in general clinical characteristics (mean age, menopausal number, clinical stage, etc.) between the two groups. For patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ sentinel lymph node-positive adenocarcinoma, breast-conserving surgery plus axillary lymph node dissection (ALND group) and breast-conserving 2-year recurrence rate (4.4%, 6.7%, P=0.87) and distant metastasis rate (9.7%, 15.6%, P=0.48) and cumulative 2 years of surgery plus axillary local radiotherapy (RNI group) There were no statistically significant differences in event-free survival (85.9%, 75.6%, P=0.14) and cumulative 2-year overall survival (90.2%, 86.7%, P=0.53). Conclusion For patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ sentinel-positive breast cancer, axillary RNI may be a new treatment for ALND. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Lymph nodes; Lymph node excision; Radiotherapy; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Axillary lymph node dissection; Breast conserving surgery

A mathematical prediction model incorporating molecular subtype for risk of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer patients: a retrospective analysis and nomogram development.

Molecular subtype of breast cancer is associated with sentinel lymph node status. We sought to establish a mathematical prediction model that included breast cancer molecular subtype for risk of positive non-sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node metastasis and further validate the model in a separate validation cohort. We reviewed the clinicopathologic data of breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node metastasis who underwent axillary lymph node dissection between June 16, 2014 and November 16, 2017at our hospital. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed and patients with pathologically proven sentinel lymph node metastasis underwent axillary lymph node dissection. Independent risks for non-sentinel lymph node metastasis were assessed in a training cohort by multivariate analysis and incorporated into a mathematical prediction model. The model was further validated in a separate validation cohort, and a nomogram was developed and evaluated for diagnostic performance in predicting the risk of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis. Moreover, we assessed the performance of five different models in predicting non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in training cohort. Totally, 495 cases were eligible for the study, including 291 patients in the training cohort and 204 in the validation cohort. Non-sentinel lymph node metastasis was observed in 33.3% (97/291) patients in the training cohort. The AUC of MSKCC, Tenon, MDA, Ljubljana, and Louisville models in training cohort were 0.7613, 0.7142, 0.7076, 0.7483, and 0.671, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that tumor size (OR = 1.439; 95% CI 1.025-2.021; P = 0.036), sentinel lymph node macro-metastasis versus micro-metastasis (OR = 5.063; 95% CI 1.111-23.074; P = 0.036), the number of positive sentinel lymph nodes (OR = 2.583, 95% CI 1.714-3.892; P < 0.001), and the number of negative sentinel lymph nodes (OR = 0.686, 95% CI 0.575-0.817; P < 0.001) were independent statistically significant predictors of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, luminal B (OR = 3.311, 95% CI 1.593-6.884; P = 0.001) and HER2 overexpression (OR = 4.308, 95% CI 1.097-16.912; P = 0.036) were independent and statistically significant predictor of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis versus luminal A. A regression model based on the results of multivariate analysis was established to predict the risk of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis, which had an AUC of 0.8188. The model was validated in the validation cohort and showed excellent diagnostic performance. The mathematical prediction model that incorporates five variables including breast cancer molecular subtype demonstrates excellent diagnostic performance in assessing the risk of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in sentinel lymph node-positive patients. The prediction model could be of help surgeons in evaluating the risk of non-sentinel lymph node involvement for breast cancer patients; however, the model requires further validation in prospective studies.

266 (PB-061) - Outcomes of sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer patients after mastectomy with or without axillary lymph node dissection

266 (PB-061) - Outcomes of sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer patients after mastectomy with or without axillary lymph node dissection

Progress of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer

Breast cancer is most common female malignant tumor all over world, and it seriously threats to women's health. As surgical treatment of breast cancer continuously develops to mode of the smallest and most effective, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged. SLNB can avoid axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and reduce complications of ALND. In recent years, some clinical research results have showed that prognosis of sentinel lymph node (SLN) positive breast cancer patients who do not accept ALND can not be affected. The necessity of performing ALND for SLN positive breast cancer patients still needs to be investigated. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Surgical procedures, operative

The administration of adjuvant chemo(-immuno) therapy in the post ACOSOG-Z0011 era; a population based study

PurposeThe ACOSOG-Z0011-study has resulted in a trend to a more conservative treatment of the axilla for selected sentinel-node-positive patients. However, axillary nodal involvement has always been an important factor for tumor staging and tailoring adjuvant chemotherapy plans. This study evaluates the impact of omitting completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) on the administration of adjuvant chemo (-immuno)therapy in Dutch clinical T1-2N0M0 (cT1-2N0M0) sentinel-node-positive breast cancer patients. MethodsData were obtained from the nationwide NABON breast cancer audit. Descriptive analyses were used to demonstrate trends in axillary surgery and adjuvant chemo (-immuno)therapy. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with the prescription of chemo (-immuno)therapy. ResultsIn this cohort of 4331 patients, the omission of a cALND increased from 34% to 92%, and the administration of chemo (-immuno)therapy decreased from 68% to 55%, between 2011 and 2015 (P < 0.001). Patients treated with cALND had an OR of 2.2 for receiving adjuvant chemo (-immuno)therapy compared with SLNB only patients. Lower age, a hormone receptor (HR) status other than HR-positive, HER2-negative, increasing tumor grade and stage, and a lymph node status ≥ pN2 were independently associated with a higher probability of chemo (-immuno)therapy (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThis study showed that Dutch cT1-2N0M0 sentinel node-positive breast cancer patients treated with cALND had a higher independent probability for receiving adjuvant chemo (-immuno)therapy compared with SLNB only patients, even when corrected for lymph node status and HR-status. Probably, the decisions to administer adjuvant chemo (-immuno)therapy were not only based on guidelines and tumor characteristics, but also on the preferences from physicians and patients.

Abstract OT2-01-01: Observational study of axilla treatment for breast cancer patients with 1 to 3 positive micrometastases or macrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes

Abstract [Background] Axilla surgery in node-positive breast cancer is dramatically changing from axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to sentinel node biopsy (SNB). From the results of ACOSOG Z0011, IBCSG23-01 and AMAROS trials, adjuvant therapy and regional node irradiation could reduce regional lymph node recurrence for sentinel node-positive breast cancer patients. However, optimal indication of SNB alone remains uncertain. Trial design: To evaluate the outcome of sentinel node-positive breast cancer patients, the Japanese Society for Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery (SNNS) conducted a prospective cohort study in 2013 (UMIN000011782, Jpn J Clin Oncol, p.876-9, 2014). [Eligibility criteria] For eligible patients, SNB was performed or scheduled after 1 January 2012. Then 1 to 3 positive micrometastases or macrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes are confirmed by histological or molecular diagnosis. Primary chemotherapy before or after SNB is also acceptable for registration. [Specific aims] The primary endpoint is the 5-year recurrence rate of regional lymph node in patients treated with SNB alone. The secondary endpoint is the 5-year overall survival rate of this cohort. Patients treated with SNB followed by ALND are also registered simultaneously to compare the prognosis. The propensity score matching (PSM) is used to make the distributions of baseline risk factors comparable. [Statistical method] Based on an estimated recurrence rate of 5% at 5 years among patients treated with SNB alone, 240 patients are needed to give a 80% power to reject the null hypothesis that the recurrence rate is 10% with a one-sided type I error rate of 2.5%. If we consider that some patients will be lost to follow-up or become ineligible, a total of 250 patients will be needed to comprise the sample. [Present accrual] Eight hundred and eighty patients who underwent SNB alone or SNB followed by ALND were registered from 27 participating institutes between 2013 and 2016. Data cleaning is being performed. Patient's background and PSM will be reported. Citation Format: Imoto S, Saito Oba M, Masuda N, Nagashima T, Wada N, Takashima T, Kitada M, Kawada M, Hayashida T, Taguchi T, Aihara T, Miura D, Toh U, Yoshida M, Sugae S, Yoneyama K, Matsumoto H, Jinno H, Sakamoto J. Observational study of axilla treatment for breast cancer patients with 1 to 3 positive micrometastases or macrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT2-01-01.

Erratum to Analysis of factors related to non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in 296 sentinel lymph node-positive Chinese breast cancer patients.

Objective: Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) may be unnecessary in 20%–60% of breast cancer patients with sentinel lymphnode (NSLN) metastasis. The aim of the present study was to review the medical records of Chinese patients with early-stagebreast cancer and positive NSLN metastasis to identify clinicopathological characteristics as risk factors for non-NSLN metastasis. Methods: The medical records of 2008 early-stage breast cancer patients who received intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB) between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were clinically and radiologically lymph nodenegativeand had no prior history of receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy or endocrinotherapy. The clinicopathologicalcharacteristics of patients with positive NSLN metastasis who underwent ALND were investigated. Results: In the present study, 296 patients with positive NSLN metastases underwent ALND. Positive non-NSLN metastases wereconfirmed in 95 patients (32.1%). On univariate analysis, ≥ 3 positive NSLN metastases (P <0.01), NSLN macrometastases (P =0.023), and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.04) were associated with non-NSLN metastasis (P <0.05). In multivariate analysis, thenumber of positive SLNs was the most significant predictor of non-SLN metastasis. For patients with 0, 1, 2, or 3 associated riskfactors, the non-SLN metastatic rates were 11.5%, 22.5%, 35.2%, and 73.1%, respectively. Conclusions: The number of positive NSLNs, NSLN macrometastases, and lymphovascular invasion were correlated with non-SLN metastasis. The number of positive SLNs was an independent predictor for non-NSLN metastasis. When 2 or 3 risk factorswere present in one patient, the probability of non-NSLN was higher than that in the American College of Surgeons OncologyGroup Z0011 trial (27.3%); thus, avoiding ALND should be considered carefully.

Analysis of factors related to non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in 296 sentinel lymph node-positive Chinese breast cancer patients.

Objective:Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) may be unnecessary in 20%–60% of breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis. The aim of the present study was to review the medical records of Chinese patients with early-stage breast cancer and positive NSLN metastasis to identify clinicopathological characteristics as risk factors for non-NSLN metastasis.Methods:The medical records of 2008 early-stage breast cancer patients who received intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were clinically and radiologically lymph node-negative and had no prior history of receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy or endocrinotherapy. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients with positive NSLN metastasis who underwent ALND were investigated.Results:In the present study, 296 patients with positive NSLN metastases underwent ALND. Positive non-NSLN metastases were confirmed in 95 patients (32.1%). On univariate analysis, ≥ 3 positive NSLN metastases (P <0.01), NSLN macrometastases ( P = 0.023), and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.04) were associated with non-NSLN metastasis (P <0.05). In multivariate analysis, the number of positive SLNs was the most significant predictor of non-SLN metastasis. For patients with 0, 1, 2, or 3 associated risk factors, the non-SLN metastatic rates were 11.5%, 22.5%, 35.2%, and 73.1%, respectively. Conclusions:The number of positive NSLNs, NSLN macrometastases, and lymphovascular invasion were correlated with non-SLN metastasis. The number of positive SLNs was an independent predictor for non-NSLN metastasis. When 2 or 3 risk factors were present in one patient, the probability of non-NSLN was higher than that in the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 trial (27.3%); thus, avoiding ALND should be considered carefully.

The Omission of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Sentinel Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Requires Careful Consideration

The Omission of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Sentinel Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Requires Careful Consideration

Survival and axillary recurrence following sentinel node-positive breast cancer without completion axillary lymph node dissection: the randomized controlled SENOMAC trial

BackgroundThe role of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has increasingly been called into question among patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes. Two recent trials have failed to show a survival difference in sentinel node-positive breast cancer patients who were randomized either to undergo completion ALND or not. Neither of the trials, however, included breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy or those with tumors larger than 5 cm, and power was debatable to show a small survival difference.MethodsThe prospective randomized SENOMAC trial includes clinically node-negative breast cancer patients with up to two macrometastases in their sentinel lymph node biopsy. Patients with T1-T3 tumors are eligible as well as patients prior to systemic neoadjuvant therapy. Both breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy, with or without breast reconstruction, are eligible interventions. Patients are randomized 1:1 to either undergo completion ALND or not by a web-based randomization tool. This trial is designed as a non-inferiority study with breast cancer-specific survival at 5 years as the primary endpoint. Target accrual is 3500 patients to achieve 80% power in being able to detect a potential 2.5% deterioration of the breast cancer-specific 5-year survival rate. Follow-up is by annual clinical examination and mammography during 5 years, and additional controls after 10 and 15 years. Secondary endpoints such as arm morbidity and health-related quality of life are measured by questionnaires at 1, 3 and 5 years.DiscussionSeveral large subgroups of breast cancer patients, such as patients undergoing mastectomy or those with larger tumors, have not been included in key trials; however, the use of ALND is being questioned even in these groups without the support of high-quality evidence. Therefore, the SENOMAC Trial will investigate the need of completion ALND in case of limited spread to the sentinel lymph nodes not only in patients undergoing any breast surgery, but also in neoadjuvantly treated patients and patients with larger tumors.Trial registrationNCT 02240472, retrospective registration date September 14, 2015 after trial initiation on January 31, 2015.

Usefulness of Breast MRI for Safe Omission of Axillary Lymph Nodes Dissection in Sentinel Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients

Background: Preoperative identification of patients with extensive lymph node metastasis (LNM) is important for safe omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in sentinel node (SN)-positive (SN+) breast cancer patients. Methods: We evaluated retrospectively the collected data of 758 breast cancer patients who underwent axillary surgery between 2008 and 2017, excluding those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Of the 758 patients, 607 were not suspicious to have LNM by axillary ultrasound (AUS-), but 38 suspicious cases were found by breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of 15 patients undergoing axillary fine needle biopsy (AFNA) due to second-look axillary ultrasound (AUS), 9 underwent ALND because of a positive AFNA (AFNA+). Among 81 (10.9%) patients undergoing ALND due to SN+ findings, 6 (7.4%) had extensive LNM (LNM ≥ 4). If MRI was not performed, among the 90 of 673 patients undergoing ALND who had SN+ findings, 12 (13.3%) had LNM ≥ 4. Conclusions: The proportion of cases with LNM ≥ 4 was reduced from 13.3% to 7.4% among patients undergoing SN biopsies combined with breast MRI. ALND might be omitted safely in SN+ cases according to detailed preoperative evaluations using additional breast MRI to ultrasound.

Outcomes of Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Mastectomy Without Axillary Therapy.

Early-stage breast cancer patients with minimal axillary disease identified by sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) have low regional recurrence rates when treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy (XRT) and many avoid a completion axillary lymph node dissection (CLND). As the incidence of total mastectomy (TM) has increased, it has become important to characterize which TM patients with a positive SLN may not benefit from further axillary treatment. An institutional database was utilized to identify patients treated with a TM for invasive breast cancer and who had a positive SLN from 1994 to 2010. Clinicopathologic factors were analyzed. Regional recurrence rate, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were determined. A total of 525 patients with invasive breast cancer and a positive SLN were treated with TM, including 58 patients who did not have CLND or XRT and 12 patients who did not have CLND but did receive XRT. Median follow-up was 66months. The incidence of regional recurrence was not significantly different for patients who received no further axillary treatment compared to those who underwent CLND without XRT or those treated with XRT without CLND (10years rate: 3.8 vs. 1.6 and 0% respectively). RFS and OS were not significantly different among patients who received no further axillary treatment compared to those who underwent CLND, XRT, or both. In select patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with mastectomy with a positive SLN, CLND may be avoided without adversely affecting recurrence or survival.

Potential impact of application of Z0011 derived criteria to omit axillary lymph node dissection in node positive breast cancer patients

BackgroundThe ACOSOG Z0011 trial, a randomized controlled trial among patients with sentinel node positive breast cancer treated with breast conserving therapy, concluded that axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) can be omitted in these patients. However, questions were raised on the general applicability if the results of the Z0011 trial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the practice changing effect of the Z0011 trial by quantifying the proportion of all node positive breast cancer patients who meet the inclusion criteria which are based on the Z0011 trial, thus in whom an ALND could be omitted. MethodsA multicenter population based study including patients with clinical T1–2N0–1M0 invasive non-metastatic breast cancer, a positive sentinel node or ultrasound guided lymph node biopsy, treated with breast conserving therapy and adjuvant systemic therapy between January 2007 and December 2012. ResultsA total of 11,031 patients had invasive breast cancer including 3051 cases treated with breast conserving therapy and adjuvant systemic therapy. Subsequently, 916 cases with a positive nodal status underwent an ALND of whom 558 cases (60.9%), representing 5.1% of the total breast cancer population, would potentially have fulfilled the Z0011 criteria. ConclusionApplication of Z0011 based criteria is practice changing in nearly 61% of all node positive patients, which could result in omission of the ALND in a substantial number of patients in the future. Further research has to be performed on the applicability of these conclusions to other categories of breast cancer patients.

Radiotherapy in sentinel node-positive breast cancer: results of an international survey

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess the radiotherapy fields being offered to women with a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) who have not had axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), based on the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z11 results.MethodsWe conducted a postal survey, addressed to radiation oncologists specialising in breast cancer treatment. In total, 179 cancer centres were contacted. Three hypothetical case scenarios were presented. In each case, the patient is clinically node negative but has a positive SLN following breast-conserving surgery, without further ALND. Respondents were asked what radiotherapy fields they would treat with in each scenario.ResultsWe received responses from 90 radiation oncologists from 73 centres in 11 countries. In the three scenarios (low, intermediate and high risk of further lymph node involvement), standard tangential beams would be used by only 27, 12 and 7%, respectively; high tangential beams by 33, 18 and 13%; tangents with full axillary/supraclavicular irradiation by 26, 51 and 61%; the remaining 14, 19 and 19% would use a nomogram to aid their decision.ConclusionThis survey describes the lack of consensus regarding the management of the axilla in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer but a positive sentinel node and who have not had ALND.

Axillary surgery in women with sentinel node-positive operable breast cancer: a systematic review with meta-analyses.

Traditionally, women with node-positive operable breast cancer have received complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), which is associated with significant morbidity, but recently less invasive alternatives have been explored. We conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials assessing alternative approaches to axillary surgery in patients with pathologically-confirmed sentinel node-positive operable breast cancer. We searched on 16/3/15 the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Breast Cancer group; CENTRAL; MEDLINE; PreMEDLINE; EMBASE; WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Portal; ClinicalTrials.gov; conference proceedings from ASCO and the San Antonio Breast Cancer meetings; checked reference lists and contacted authors to identify relevant studies. Double, independent study sifting, extraction, appraisal and summarising were undertaken using standard Cochrane Collaboration methodology. We included three studies (2020 patients) comparing ALND with sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) to SLND alone, and two studies (1899 patients) comparing ALND to axillary radiotherapy (aRT). No differences in survival or recurrence were observed between ALND and SLND or aRT, but morbidity may have been increased in ALND, and all the results were subject to different biases, such as recruitment bias, performance bias, and outcome-reporting bias. Whilst it is encouraging that there appears to be no adverse effect on recurrence or survival, it will be appropriate to confirm these findings and provide additional data confirming quality of life effects and long term outcomes.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-016-1712-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.