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Li X, Wang L, Wang Y, Ma L, Zheng R, Ding J, Gong Y, Yao H, Wang J, Zha X. Omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with clinically axillary lymph node-negative early breast cancer (OMSLNB): protocol for a prospective, non-inferiority, single-arm, phase II clinical trial in China. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e087700. [PMID: 39260835 PMCID: PMC11409317 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a standard procedure for patients with clinically assessed negative axillary lymph nodes (cN0) during early-stage breast cancer (EBC). However, the majority of EBC patients have a negative pathological confirmation of the sentinel lymph node (SLN), and axillary surgery is inevitably associated with postoperative complications. Considering that SLNB has no therapeutic benefit, this trial aims to determine the safety of omitting SLNB in patients with cN0 early invasive breast cancer. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The OMSLNB trial is a prospective, single-arm, non-inferiority, phase II, open-label study design involving female breast cancer patients with a tumor of ≤3 cm in diameter, who are considered axillary lymph-node-negative based on two or more radiological examinations, including axillary lymph node ultrasonography. Eligible patients will avoid axillary surgery but will undergo breast surgery, which is not limited to breast-conserving surgery. The trial begins in 2023 and is scheduled to end in 2027. The primary endpoint is 3 year invasive disease-free survival (iDFS). The secondary endpoints include the incidence of breast cancer-related lymphoedema, patient-reported outcomes, locoregional recurrence, local recurrence and regional recurrence. It is expected that the 3 year iDFS in patients undergoing SLNB is about 90%, combined with a non-inferiority cut-off of 5%, 80% power, 95% CIs, 0.05 test level, and 10% loss to follow-up rate, the planned enrollment is 311 patients. All enrolled patients will be included in the intention-to-treat analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (No.2023-SR-193). All participants must provide written informed consent to be eligible. The protocol will be described in a peer-reviewed manuscript, and the results will be published in scientific journals and/or at academic conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05935150.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lexin Wang
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lingjun Ma
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ran Zheng
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingjing Ding
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yichun Gong
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Yao
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jue Wang
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoming Zha
- Department of Breast Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Zhao J, Zhu Q, Peng L, Fang S. Letter to the Editors: Concerning "Nodal Surgery for Patients ≥ 70 Undergoing Mastectomy for DCIS? Choose Wisely" by Elissa C. Dalton et al. Ann Surg Oncol 2024:10.1245/s10434-024-16061-7. [PMID: 39167351 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-024-16061-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Zhao
- Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Qingli Zhu
- Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
| | - Li Peng
- Department of Breast Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Song Fang
- Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
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Daly GR, Dowling GP, Said M, Qasem Y, Hembrecht S, Calpin GG, AlRawashdeh MM, Hill ADK. Impact of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy on Management of Older Women With Clinically Node-Negative, Early-Stage, ER+/HER2-, Invasive Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Breast Cancer 2024:S1526-8209(24)00212-X. [PMID: 39214843 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2024.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
In 2016 the Choosing Wisely guidelines advised against routine performance of a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in women ≥ 70 years of age with clinically node negative (cN0), early-stage, oestrogen receptor positive/ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (ER+/HER2-), invasive breast cancer. The argument in favour of its continued performance is that it may serve as a useful guide for subsequent management. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting on rate of adjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy and performance of completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) post SLNB in women aged ≥ 65 years with cN0, early-stage, ER+/HER2-, invasive breast cancer were included. A random effects meta-analysis was performed with summary estimates made using the Mantel-Haenszel method. Dichotomous outcomes were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Ten retrospective studies across 4 countries. Of 105,514 patients, 15,509 had a positive SLNB and 90,005 had a negative SLNB. On meta-analysis, a positive SLNB was significantly associated with receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 4.64 (95% CI 3.18, 6.77), P < .00001), adjuvant radiotherapy (1.71 (95% CI 1.18, 2.47), P = .005) and undergoing completion axillary lymph node dissection (OR 68.97 (95% CI, 7.47, 636.88), P = .0002). Adjuvant treatment decisions continue to be influenced by SLNB positivity in the era of the Choosing Wisely guidelines. The effects of a positive SLNB and subsequent treatments on outcomes remain inconclusive. However, it is likely clinicians are continuing to over-investigate and over-treat this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon R Daly
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Gavin P Dowling
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mohammad Said
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yazan Qasem
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sandra Hembrecht
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gavin G Calpin
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ma'en M AlRawashdeh
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Arnold D K Hill
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Daly GR, Dowling GP, Hamza E, AlRawashdeh M, Hegarty A, Naz T, McGrath J, Naidoo S, Downey E, Butt A, Power C, Hill ADK. Does Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Influence Subsequent Management Decisions in Women With Breast Cancer ≥ 70 Years Old? Clin Breast Cancer 2024; 24:510-518.e4. [PMID: 38821743 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2024.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have been ongoing attempts to de-escalate surgical intervention in older breast cancer patients in recent years. However, there remains ongoing hesitancy amongst surgeons to de-implement axillary staging in this cohort. The supporting argument for performing a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is that it may guide subsequent management. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of 356 SLNBs, in 342 women ≥ 70 years of age with invasive breast cancer, between 2014 and 2022 in a single institution. Data were collected on patient and tumor characteristics and subsequent management for all patients and for patients with ER+/HER2-, early-stage disease. RESULTS Positive SLNB significantly increased likelihood of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (CTh) in patients aged 70-75 in all clinical subtypes (OR 4.0, 95% CI, 1.6-10; P = .0035). Positive SLNB did not significantly increase likelihood of receiving adjuvant CTh in patients aged 75-80, however, an Oncotype Dx score of ≥ 26 did (OR 34.50, 95% CI, 3.00-455.2; P = .0103). Positive SLNB was significantly associated with receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (RTh) in all patients aged 70-75 (OR 4.5, 95% CI, 2.0-11; P = .0004) and 75-80 (OR 9.7, 95% CI, 2.7-46; P = .0015). In patients aged ≥ 80 years, positive SLNB did not have a significant influence on subsequent treatments. CONCLUSION In this study, SLNB did not significantly influence subsequent management decisions in patients over 80 and should rarely be performed in this cohort. However, SLNB still had a role in patients aged 70-80 and should be used selectively in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon R Daly
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Gavin P Dowling
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eman Hamza
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ma'en AlRawashdeh
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aisling Hegarty
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tarnum Naz
- Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jason McGrath
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sindhuja Naidoo
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eithne Downey
- Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Abeeda Butt
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Colm Power
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Arnold D K Hill
- Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Boland MR. Modern management of the axilla. J Surg Oncol 2024; 130:23-28. [PMID: 38643485 DOI: 10.1002/jso.27649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Surgical management of the axilla has evolved considerably in recent years, with a strong focus on de-escalation to minimise morbidity whilst maintaining oncological outcomes. Current trials will focus on the omission of Sentinel node biopsy in select groups of patients, while axillary lymph node dissection will be reserved for those with more aggressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Boland
- Department of Breast Surgery, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Weber WP, Hanson SE, Wong DE, Heidinger M, Montagna G, Cafferty FH, Kirby AM, Coles CE. Personalizing Locoregional Therapy in Patients With Breast Cancer in 2024: Tailoring Axillary Surgery, Escalating Lymphatic Surgery, and Implementing Evidence-Based Hypofractionated Radiotherapy. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2024; 44:e438776. [PMID: 38815195 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_438776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The management of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer is continually evolving. Recent data now support omitting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in most patients with metastases in up to two sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) during upfront surgery and those with residual isolated tumor cells after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). In the upfront surgery setting, ALND is still indicated, however, in patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer or more than two positive SLNs and, after NACT, in case of residual micrometastases and macrometastases. Omission of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) can be considered in many postmenopausal patients with small luminal breast cancer, particularly when axillary ultrasound is negative. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are currently aiming at eliminating the remaining indications for ALND and also establishing omission of SLNB in a broader patient population. The movement to deescalate axillary staging is in part because of the association between ALND and lymphedema, which is swelling of an extremity because of lymphatic damage and obstructed lymphatic drainage. To reduce the risk of developing this condition, patients undergoing ALND can undergo reverse mapping of the axilla and immediate reconstruction or bypass of the lymphatics from the involved extremity. Decongestion and compression are the foundation of conservative treatment for established lymphedema, while lymphovenous bypass and lymph node transfer are surgical procedures to address the physiologic dysfunction. Radiotherapy is an essential component of breast locoregional therapy: more than three decades of radiation research has optimized treatment according to patient's risk of local recurrence while substantially reducing the number of treatment visits. High-quality RCTs have shown the efficacy and safety of hypofractionation-more than 2Gy radiation dose per treatment (fraction)-significantly reducing the burden of radiotherapy treatment for many patients with breast cancer. In 2024, guidelines recommend no more than 15-16 fractions for whole-breast and nodal radiotherapy, with some recommending five fractions for whole-breast radiotherapy. In addition, simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) has been shown to be noninferior to sequential boost with regards to ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence with similar or reduced long-term side effects, also reducing overall treatment length. Further RCTs are underway investigating other indications for five fractions, including SIB and regional node irradiation, such that, in future, it may be possible for the majority of breast radiotherapy patients to be treated with a 1-week course. This manuscript serves to outline the latest updates on axillary surgical staging, lymphatic surgery, and evidence-based radiotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Paul Weber
- Breast Clinic, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Summer E Hanson
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences Division, Chicago, IL
| | - Daniel E Wong
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences Division, Chicago, IL
| | - Martin Heidinger
- Breast Clinic, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Giacomo Montagna
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Fay H Cafferty
- Institute of Cancer Research Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M Kirby
- Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte E Coles
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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James J, Law M, Sengupta S, Saunders C. Assessment of the axilla in women with early-stage breast cancer undergoing primary surgery: a review. World J Surg Oncol 2024; 22:127. [PMID: 38725006 PMCID: PMC11084006 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-024-03394-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is routinely performed in people with node-negative early breast cancer to assess the axilla. SNB has no proven therapeutic benefit. Nodal status information obtained from SNB helps in prognostication and can influence adjuvant systemic and locoregional treatment choices. However, the redundancy of the nodal status information is becoming increasingly apparent. The accuracy of radiological assessment of the axilla, combined with the strong influence of tumour biology on systemic and locoregional therapy requirements, has prompted many to consider alternative options for SNB. SNB contributes significantly to decreased quality of life in early breast cancer patients. Substantial improvements in workflow and cost could accrue by removing SNB from early breast cancer treatment. We review the current viewpoints and ideas for alternative options for assessing and managing a clinically negative axilla in patients with early breast cancer (EBC). Omitting SNB in selected cases or replacing SNB with a non-invasive predictive model appear to be viable options based on current literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin James
- Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia.
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Maroondah Hospital, Davey Drive, Ringwood East, Melbourne, VIC, 3135, Australia.
| | - Michael Law
- Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shomik Sengupta
- Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Heidinger M, Weber WP. Axillary Surgery for Breast Cancer in 2024. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1623. [PMID: 38730576 PMCID: PMC11083357 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Axillary surgery for patients with breast cancer (BC) in 2024 is becoming increasingly specific, moving away from the previous 'one size fits all' radical approach. The goal is to spare morbidity whilst maintaining oncologic safety. In the upfront surgery setting, a first landmark randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the omission of any surgical axillary staging in patients with unremarkable clinical examination and axillary ultrasound showed non-inferiority to sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB). The study population consisted of 87.8% postmenopausal patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative BC. Patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer and up to two positive SLNs can safely be spared axillary dissection (ALND) even in the context of mastectomy or extranodal extension. In patients enrolled in the TAXIS trial, adjuvant systemic treatment was shown to be similar with or without ALND despite the loss of staging information. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), targeted lymph node removal with or without SLNB showed a lower false-negative rate to determine nodal pathological complete response (pCR) compared to SLNB alone. However, oncologic outcomes do not appear to differ in patients with nodal pCR determined by either one of the two concepts, according to a recently published global, retrospective, real-world study. Real-world studies generally have a lower level of evidence than RCTs, but they are feasible quickly and with a large sample size. Another global real-world study provides evidence that even patients with residual isolated tumor cells can be safely spared from ALND. In general, few indications for ALND remain. Three randomized controlled trials are ongoing for patients with clinically node-positive BC in the upfront surgery setting and residual disease after NACT. Pending the results of these trials, ALND remains indicated in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Heidinger
- Breast Surgery, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Walter P. Weber
- Breast Surgery, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
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de Wild SR, van Roozendaal LM, de Wilt JHW, van Dalen T, van der Hage JA, van Duijnhoven FH, Simons JM, Schipper RJ, de Munck L, van Kuijk SMJ, Boersma LJ, Linn SC, Lobbes MBI, Poortmans PMP, Tjan-Heijnen VCG, van de Vijver KKBT, de Vries J, Westenberg AH, Strobbe LJA, Smidt ML. De-escalation of axillary treatment in the event of a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in cT1-2 N0 breast cancer treated with mastectomy: nationwide registry study (BOOG 2013-07). Br J Surg 2024; 111:znae077. [PMID: 38597154 PMCID: PMC11004788 DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znae077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trials have demonstrated the safety of omitting completion axillary lymph node dissection in patients with cT1-2 N0 breast cancer operated with breast-conserving surgery who have limited metastatic burden in the sentinel lymph node. The aim of this registry study was to provide insight into the oncological safety of omitting completion axillary treatment in patients operated with mastectomy who have limited-volume sentinel lymph node metastasis. METHODS Women diagnosed in 2013-2014 with unilateral cT1-2 N0 breast cancer treated with mastectomy, with one to three sentinel lymph node metastases (pN1mi-pN1a), were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry, and classified by axillary treatment: no completion axillary treatment, completion axillary lymph node dissection, regional radiotherapy, or completion axillary lymph node dissection followed by regional radiotherapy. The primary endpoint was 5-year regional recurrence rate. Secondary endpoints included recurrence-free interval and overall survival, among others. RESULTS In total, 1090 patients were included (no completion axillary treatment, 219 (20.1%); completion axillary lymph node dissection, 437 (40.1%); regional radiotherapy, 327 (30.0%); completion axillary lymph node dissection and regional radiotherapy, 107 (9.8%)). Patients in the group without completion axillary treatment had more favourable tumour characteristics and were older. The overall 5-year regional recurrence rate was 1.3%, and did not differ significantly between the groups. The recurrence-free interval was also comparable among groups. The group of patients who did not undergo completion axillary treatment had statistically significantly worse 5-year overall survival, owing to a higher percentage of non-cancer deaths. CONCLUSION In this registry study of patients with cT1-2 N0 breast cancer treated with mastectomy, with low-volume sentinel lymph node metastasis, the 5-year regional recurrence rate was low and comparable between patients with and without completion axillary treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine R de Wild
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Department of Surgery, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Johannes H W de Wilt
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Thijs van Dalen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jos A van der Hage
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Frederieke H van Duijnhoven
- Department of Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute—Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Janine M Simons
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Department of Surgery, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiotherapy, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Linda de Munck
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sander M J van Kuijk
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth J Boersma
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Sabine C Linn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute—Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marc B I Lobbes
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands
| | - Philip M P Poortmans
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Iridium Netwerk, Antwerp, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Koen K B T van de Vijver
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute—Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Ghent—Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jolanda de Vries
- Department of Psychology and Health, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - A Helen Westenberg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapiegroep Arnhem, Arnhem, the Netherlands
| | - Luc J A Strobbe
- Department of Surgery, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolein L Smidt
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Department of Surgery, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Tejedor L, Gómez-Modet S. Reducing axillary surgery in breast cancer. Cir Esp 2024; 102:220-224. [PMID: 37956715 DOI: 10.1016/j.cireng.2023.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
This article provides a brief account of the recent evolution of the highly controversial surgical management of the positive axilla in patients with breast cancer, an issue still open to disparate surgical procedures. This short review highlights the reports that supply the rationale for current trends in reducing the aggressiveness of this surgery and discusses the course of the trials still in progress pointing in the same direction, thus supporting the principle of not performing axillary lymph node dissection for staging purposes alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Tejedor
- Hospital Universitario Punta de Europa, Universidad de Cádiz, Spain.
| | - S Gómez-Modet
- Hospital Universitario Punta de Europa, Universidad de Cádiz, Spain
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Laws A, Lagendijk M, Grossmith S, Hughes M, Lin NU, Mittendorf EA, Eliassen AH, King TA, Dominici LS. Long-Term Patient-Reported Arm Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors. Ann Surg Oncol 2024; 31:1623-1633. [PMID: 38071708 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-14711-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding long-term arm symptoms in breast cancer survivors is critical given excellent survival in the modern era. METHODS This cross-sectional study included patients treated for stage 0-III breast cancer at our institution from 2002 to 2012. Patient-reported arm symptoms were collected from the EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaire. We used linear regression to evaluate adjusted associations between locoregional treatments and the continuous Arm Symptom (AS) score (0-100; higher score reflects more symptoms). RESULTS A total of 1126 patients expressed interest in participating and 882 (78.3%) completed the questionnaire. Mean time since surgery was 10.5 years. There was a broad distribution of locoregional treatments, including axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in 37.1% of patients, mastectomy with reconstruction in 36.5% of patients, and post-mastectomy radiation in 38.2% of patients. Overall, 64.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 61.1-67.4%) of patients reported no arm symptoms, 17.0% (95% CI 14.7-19.6%) had one mild symptom, 9.4% (95% CI 7.7-11.5%) had two or more mild symptoms, and 9.3% (95% CI 7.6-11.4%) reported one or more severe symptoms. Adjusted AS scores were significantly higher with ALND versus sentinel node biopsy (β 3.5, p = 0.01), and with autologous reconstruction versus all other breast/reconstructive surgery types (β 4.5-5.5, all p < 0.05). There was a significant interaction between axillary and breast/reconstructive surgery, with the greatest effect of ALND in those with mastectomy with implant (β 9.7) or autologous (β 5.7) reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS One in three patients reported arm symptoms at a mean of 10 years from treatment for breast cancer, although rates of severe symptoms were low (<10%). Attention is warranted to the arm morbidity related to both axillary and breast surgery during treatment counseling and survivorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Laws
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mirelle Lagendijk
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Samantha Grossmith
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Melissa Hughes
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nancy U Lin
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Mittendorf
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Heather Eliassen
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tari A King
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura S Dominici
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Wintraecken VM, Boersma LJ, van Roozendaal LM, de Vries J, van Kuijk SMJ, Vane MLG, van Dalen T, van der Hage JA, Strobbe LJA, Linn SC, Lobbes MBI, Poortmans PMP, Tjan-Heijnen VCG, van de Vijver KKBT, Westenberg AH, de Wilt JHW, Smidt ML, Simons JM. Quality assurance of radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery among patients in the BOOG 2013-08 trial. Radiother Oncol 2024; 191:110069. [PMID: 38141879 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In the BOOG 2013-08 trial (NCT02271828), cT1-2N0 breast cancer patients were randomized between breast conserving surgery with or without sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) followed by whole breast radiotherapy (WBRT). While awaiting primary endpoint results (axillary recurrence rate), this study aims to perform a quality assurance analysis on protocol adherence and (incidental) axillary radiation therapy (RT) dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were enrolled between 2015 and 2022. Data on prescribed RT and (in 25% of included patients) planning target volumes (PTV) parameters were recorded for axillary levels I-IV and compared between treatment arms. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to determine prognostic variables for incidental axillary RT dose. RESULTS 1,439/1,461 included patients (98.5%) were treated according to protocol and 87 patients (5.9%) received regional RT (SLNB 10.9%, no-SLNB 1.5 %). In 326 patients included in the subgroup analysis, the mean incidental PTV dose at axilla level I was 59.5% of the prescribed breast RT dose. In 5 patients (1.5%) the mean PTV dose at level I was ≥95% of the prescribed breast dose. No statistically or clinically significant differences regarding incidental axillary RT dose were found between treatment arms. Tumour bed boost (yes/no) was associated with a higher incidental mean dose in level I (R2 = 0.035, F(6, 263) = 1.532, p 0.168). CONCLUSION The results indicate that RT-protocol adherence was high, and that incidental axillary RT dose was low in the BOOG 2013-08 trial. Potential differences between treatmentarms regarding the primary endpoint can thus not be attributed to different axillary radiation doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- V M Wintraecken
- GROW - School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - L J Boersma
- Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - L M van Roozendaal
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands
| | - J de Vries
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Board member Adrz, Goes, the Netherlands
| | - S M J van Kuijk
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - M L G Vane
- GROW - School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - T van Dalen
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Diakonessenhuis Hospital, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J A van der Hage
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Leids University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - L J A Strobbe
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - S C Linn
- Division of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M B I Lobbes
- GROW - School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Imaging, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands
| | - P M P Poortmans
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Iridium Network, Antwerp, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - V C G Tjan-Heijnen
- GROW - School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Division of Medical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - K K B T van de Vijver
- Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Center for Gynecological Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA), Department of Gynecology, Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - A H Westenberg
- Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapiegroep location Arnhem, Arnhem, the Netherlands
| | - J H W de Wilt
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - M L Smidt
- GROW - School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - J M Simons
- GROW - School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiotherapy, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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13
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Tauber N, Bjelic-Radisic V, Thill M, Banys-Paluchowski M. Controversies in axillary management of patients with breast cancer - updates for 2024. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2024; 36:51-56. [PMID: 37678325 DOI: 10.1097/gco.0000000000000916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW For some time now, the question of de-escalation in axillary staging in breast cancer patients has been raised. The aim is to improve the patients' quality of life and reduce morbidity by optimizing surgical strategies with a high level of oncological safety. This review offers a current overview of published evidence and clinical practice, aiming to guide the surgical community as they reassess and reshape their practices. RECENT FINDINGS Years after introducing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in clinically node negative breast cancer patients several guidelines suggest completely omitting SLNB in older patients with low-risk tumors. It is worth noting that for patients with a metastatic sentinel lymph node in the upfront surgery setting, a de-escalation of axillary surgery may in fact lead to an escalation of radiation therapy. Currently, there is limited evidence on the axillary surgical approach for patients with initially positive node status achieving complete axillary response (ycN0), resulting in heterogenous guideline recommendations. SUMMARY Innovative trials are contributing to a growing evidence on de-escalation of axillary surgery with the aim of reducing arm morbidity and improving long-term health-related quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Tauber
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck
| | | | - Marc Thill
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, Breast Center, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt/M
| | - Maggie Banys-Paluchowski
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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14
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Rocco N, Ghilli M, Curcio A, Bortul M, Burlizzi S, Cabula C, Cabula R, Ferrari A, Folli S, Fortunato L, Frittelli P, Gentilini O, Grendele S, Grassi MM, Grossi S, Magnoni F, Murgo R, Palli D, Rovera F, Sanguinetti A, Taffurelli M, Tazzioli G, Terribile DA, Caruso F, Galimberti V. Is routine axillary lymph node dissection needed to tailor systemic treatments for breast cancer patients in the era of molecular oncology? A position paper of the Italian National Association of Breast Surgeons (ANISC). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY 2024; 50:107954. [PMID: 38217946 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2024.107954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND De-escalation of axillary surgery in breast cancer (BC) management began when sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) replaced axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as standard of care in patients with node-negative BC. The second step consolidated ALND omission in selected subgroups of BC patients with up to two macrometastases and recognized BC molecular and genomic implication in predicting prognosis and planning adjuvant treatment. Outcomes from the recent RxPONDER and monarchE trials have come to challenge the previous cut-off of two SLN in order to inform decisions on systemic therapies for hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor type-2 (HER2) negative BC, as the criteria included a cut-off of respectively three and four SLNs. In view of the controversy that this may lift in surgical practice, the Italian National Association of Breast Surgeons (Associazione Nazionale Italiana Senologi Chirurghi, ANISC) reviewed data regarding the latest trials on this topic and proposes an implementation in clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS We reviewed the available literature offering data on the pathological nodal status of cN0 breast cancer patients. RESULTS The rates of pN2 status in cN0 patients ranges from 3.5 % to 16 %; pre-surgical diagnostic definition of axillary lymph node status in cN0 patients by ultrasound could be useful to inform about a possible involvement of ≥4 lymph nodes in this specific sub-groups of women. CONCLUSIONS The Italian National Association of Breast Surgeons (ANISC) considers that for HR + HER2-/cN0-pN1(sn) BC patients undergoing breast conserving treatment the preoperative workup should be optimized for a more detailed assessment of the axilla and the technique of SLNB should be optimized, if considered appropriate by the surgeon, not considering routine ALND always indicated to determine treatment recommendations according to criteria of eligibility to RxPONDER and monarch-E trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Rocco
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Matteo Ghilli
- Breast Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Marina Bortul
- SSD Chirurgia Senologica e Breast Unit, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Trieste, Italy Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Burlizzi
- UOSD Chirurgia Senologica, Ospedale "A. Perrino", Brindisi, Italy
| | - Carlo Cabula
- Chirurgia Senologica Azienda Ospedaliera Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberta Cabula
- Cagliari University Hospital, Surgery Unit, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alberta Ferrari
- SSD Chirurgia Tumori eredo-famigliari, SC Chirurgia Generale 3, Senologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico san Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Secondo Folli
- SC di Chirurgia Oncologica-Senologia, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Lucio Fortunato
- Breast Center, San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Frittelli
- UOC Chirurgia senologica, Ospedale Isola Tiberina Gemelli Isola, Rome, Italy
| | - Oreste Gentilini
- Breast Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Grendele
- Breast Surgery, Department of Functional Oncology, Alto Vicentino Hospital, Santorso, Vicenza, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Magnoni
- Division of Senology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Murgo
- Chirurgia Senologica, IRCCS Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Dante Palli
- UOC di Chirurgia Generale ad Indirizzo Senologico-Breast Unit AUSL Piacenza, Italy
| | - Francesca Rovera
- S.S.D. Breast Unit - Ospedale Universitario, Varese, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina e Innovazione Tecnologica, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sanguinetti
- SSD Chirurgia della Mammella - Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Azienda Ospedaliera "S.Maria", Terni, Italy
| | - Mario Taffurelli
- Breast Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesco Caruso
- Breast Unit, Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Misterbianco, (CT), Italy; National Association of Breast Surgeons (ANISC), Italy
| | - Viviana Galimberti
- Division of Senology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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15
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Zaborowski AM, Doogan K, Clifford S, Dowling G, Kazi F, Delaney K, Yadav H, Brady A, Geraghty J, Evoy D, Rothwell J, McCartan D, Heeney A, Barry M, Walsh SM, Stokes M, Kell MR, Allen M, Power C, Hill ADK, Connolly E, Alazawi D, Boyle T, Corrigan M, O’Leary P, Prichard RS. Nodal positivity in patients with clinically and radiologically node-negative breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: multicentre collaborative study. Br J Surg 2024; 111:znad401. [PMID: 38055888 PMCID: PMC10763529 DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The necessity of performing a sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with clinically and radiologically node-negative breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been questioned. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of nodal positivity in these patients and to identify clinicopathological features associated with lymph node metastasis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (ypN+). METHODS A retrospective multicentre study was performed. Patients with cT1-3 cN0 breast cancer who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2016 and 2021 were included. Negative nodal status was defined as the absence of palpable lymph nodes, and the absence of suspicious nodes on axillary ultrasonography, or the absence of tumour cells on axillary nodal fine needle aspiration or core biopsy. RESULTS A total of 371 patients were analysed. Overall, 47 patients (12.7%) had a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy. Nodal positivity was identified in 22 patients (29.0%) with hormone receptor+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2- tumours, 12 patients (13.8%) with hormone receptor+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2+ tumours, 3 patients (5.6%) with hormone receptor-/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2+ tumours, and 10 patients (6.5%) with triple-negative breast cancer. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that multicentric disease was associated with a higher likelihood of ypN+ (OR 2.66, 95% c.i. 1.18 to 6.01; P = 0.018), whilst a radiological complete response in the breast was associated with a reduced likelihood of ypN+ (OR 0.10, 95% c.i. 0.02 to 0.42; P = 0.002), regardless of molecular subtype. Only 3% of patients who had a radiological complete response in the breast were ypN+. The majority of patients (85%) with a positive sentinel node proceeded to axillary lymph node dissection and 93% had N1 disease. CONCLUSION The rate of sentinel lymph node positivity in patients who achieve a radiological complete response in the breast is exceptionally low for all molecular subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katie Doogan
- Department of Breast Surgery, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Siobhan Clifford
- Department of Breast Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gavin Dowling
- Department of Breast Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Farah Kazi
- Department of Breast Surgery, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Karina Delaney
- Department of Breast Surgery, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Himanshu Yadav
- Cork Breast Research Centre, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
| | - Aaron Brady
- Department of Breast Surgery, Bon Secours Hospital Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - James Geraghty
- Department of Breast Surgery, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Denis Evoy
- Department of Breast Surgery, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jane Rothwell
- Department of Breast Surgery, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Damian McCartan
- Department of Breast Surgery, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anna Heeney
- Department of Breast Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mitchel Barry
- Department of Breast Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Siun M Walsh
- Department of Breast Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Maurice Stokes
- Department of Breast Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Malcolm R Kell
- Department of Breast Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Allen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Colm Power
- Department of Breast Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Arnold D K Hill
- Department of Breast Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Dhafir Alazawi
- Department of Breast Surgery, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Terence Boyle
- Department of Breast Surgery, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mark Corrigan
- Cork Breast Research Centre, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
| | - Peter O’Leary
- Department of Breast Surgery, Bon Secours Hospital Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ruth S Prichard
- Department of Breast Surgery, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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16
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Gentilini OD. Lessons from the SOUND trial and future perspectives on axillary staging in breast cancer. Br J Surg 2024; 111:znad391. [PMID: 38059555 PMCID: PMC10771253 DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Oreste D Gentilini
- Breast Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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17
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van Roozendaal LM, Vane MLG, Colier E, Strobbe LJA, de Boer M, Sonke G, Van Maaren MC, Smidt ML. Gene expression profiles in clinically T1-2N0 ER+HER2- breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving therapy: their added value in case sentinel lymph node biopsy is not performed. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2024; 203:103-110. [PMID: 37794289 PMCID: PMC10771349 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07128-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Omitting sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer treatment results in patients with unknown positive nodal status and potential risk for systemic undertreatment. This study aimed to investigate whether gene expression profiles (GEPs) can lower this risk in cT1-2N0 ER+ HER2- breast cancer patients treated with BCT. METHODS Patients were included if diagnosed between 2011 and 2017 with cT1-2N0 ER+ HER2- breast cancer, treated with BCT and SLNB, and in whom GEP was applied. Adjuvant chemotherapy recommendations based on clinical risk status (Dutch breast cancer guideline of 2020 versus PREDICT v2.1) with and without knowledge on SLNB outcome were compared to GEP outcome. We examined missing adjuvant chemotherapy indications, and the number of GEPs needed to identify one patient at risk for systemic undertreatment. RESULTS Of 3585 patients, 2863 (79.9%) had pN0 and 722 (20.1%) pN + disease. Chemotherapy was recommended in 1354 (37.8% guideline-2020) and 1888 patients (52.7% PREDICT). Eliminating SLNB outcome (n = 722) resulted in omission of chemotherapy recommendation in 475 (35.1% guideline-2020) and 412 patients (21.8% PREDICT). GEP revealed genomic high risk in 126 (26.5% guideline-2020) and 82 patients (19.9% PREDICT) in case of omitted chemotherapy recommendation in the absence of SLNB. Extrapolated to the whole group, this concerns 3.5% and 2.3%, respectively, resulting in the need for 28-44 GEPs to identify one patient at risk for systemic undertreatment. CONCLUSION If no SLNB is performed, clinical risk status according to the guideline of 2020 and PREDICT predicts a very low risk for systemic undertreatment. The number of GEPs needed to identify one patient at risk for undertreatment does not justify its standard use.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M van Roozendaal
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen - Sittard, The Netherlands.
| | - M L G Vane
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - E Colier
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - L J A Strobbe
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - M de Boer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - G Sonke
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands-Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M C Van Maaren
- Department of Health Technology and Services Research, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M L Smidt
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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18
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Jia W, Chen X, Wang X, Zhang J, Tang T, Shi J. The Ongoing Necessity of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for cT1-2N0 Breast Cancer Patients. Breast Care (Basel) 2023; 18:473-482. [PMID: 38125916 PMCID: PMC10730101 DOI: 10.1159/000532081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Recent clinical trials attempt to determine whether it is appropriate to omit axillary lymph node surgery in patients with cT1-2N0 breast cancer. The study aimed to investigate the true extent of axillary node disease in patients with clinically negative nodes and explore the differences between negative axillary ultrasound (AUS-cN0) and suspicious axillary ultrasound with negative fine-needle aspiration (FNA-cN0). Methods Pathologically identified T1-2 invasive breast cancer patients with clinically negative nodes were retrospectively analyzed at our center between January 2019 and December 2022. Patients who received any systematic treatment before surgery were excluded from this study. Results A total of 538 patients were enrolled in this study. 134 (24.9%) patients had pathologically positive nodes, and 404 (75.1%) patients had negative nodes. Univariate analysis revealed that tumor size, T stage, Ki67 level, and vascular invasion (VI) were strongly associated with pathological axillary lymph node positivity. In multivariate analysis, VI was the only independent risk factor for node positivity in patients with cT1-2N0 disease (OR: 3.723, confidence interval [CI]: 2.380-5.824, p < 0.001). Otherwise, pathological node positivity was not significantly different between AUS-cN0 and FNA-cN0 groups (23.4% vs. 28.8%, p = 0.193). However, the rate of high nodal burden (≥3 positive nodes) was significantly higher in FNA-cN0 group. Further investigation revealed that FNA-cN0 and VI were independently associated with a high nodal burden (OR: 2.650, CI: 1.081-6.496, p = 0.033; OR: 3.521, CI: 1.249-9.931, p = 0.017, respectively). Conclusions cT1-2 breast cancer patients with clinically negative axillary lymph nodes may have pathologically positive lymph nodes and even a high nodal burden. False negatives in AUS and AUS-guided FNA should not be ignored, and sentinel lymph node biopsy remains an ongoing necessity for cT1-2N0 breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Jia
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jianzhong Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Tong Tang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jianing Shi
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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19
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Khan SY, Cole J, Habrawi Z, Melkus MW, Layeequr Rahman R. Cryoablation Allows the Ultimate De-escalation of Surgical Therapy for Select Breast Cancer Patients. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:8398-8403. [PMID: 37770723 PMCID: PMC10625946 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-14332-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Widespread use of screening mammography has allowed breast cancer to be detected at earlier stages. This allows for increased customization of treatment and less aggressive management. De-escalation of therapy plays an important role in decreasing treatment burden and improving patient quality of life. This report examines cryoablation as the next step in the surgical de-escalation of breast cancer. METHODS Women with a diagnosis of clinically node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive (ER +), progesterone receptor-positive (PR +), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2 -) infiltrating ductal carcinomas 1.5 cm or smaller underwent ultrasound-guided cryoablation. Either the Visica 2 treatment system (before 2020) or the ProSense treatment system (since 2020) was used to perform the cryoablation. Patients received mammograms and ultrasounds at a 6 months follow-up visit, and magnetic resonance images at baseline, then at 1 year follow-up intervals. Adjuvant therapy decisions and disease status were recorded. RESULTS This study enrolled 32 patients who underwent 33 cryoablation procedures (1 patient had bilateral cancer). One patient had a sentinel node biopsy in addition to clinical staging of the axilla. For all the patients, adjuvant endocrine therapy was recommended, and six patients (18.75%) received adjuvant radiation. Of the 32 patients, 20 (60.6%) have been followed up for 2 years or longer, with no residual or recurrent disease at the site of ablation. CONCLUSION Cryoablation of the primary tumor foregoing sentinel node biopsy offers an oncologically safe and feasible minimally invasive office-based procedure option in lieu of surgery for patients with early-stage, low-risk breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Y Khan
- Breast Center of Excellence and Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Jaclyn Cole
- Breast Center of Excellence and Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Zaina Habrawi
- Breast Center of Excellence and Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Michael W Melkus
- Breast Center of Excellence and Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Rakhshanda Layeequr Rahman
- Breast Center of Excellence and Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
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20
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van Haaren ERM, Poodt IGM, Spiekerman van Weezelenburg MA, van Bastelaar J, Janssen A, de Vries B, Lobbes MBI, Bouwman LH, Vissers YLJ. Impact of analysis of the sentinel lymph node by one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) compared to conventional histopathology on axillary and systemic treatment: data from the Dutch nationwide cohort of breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 202:245-255. [PMID: 37495799 PMCID: PMC10505596 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07065-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The outcome of the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer patients affects adjuvant treatment. Compared to conventional histopathology, analysis by one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) harvests more micrometastasis, potentially inducing overtreatment. In this study we investigated the impact of OSNA analysis on adjuvant treatment, compared to histopathological analysis. METHODS Data from T1-3 breast cancer patients with sentinel nodes analysed between January 2016 and December 2019 by OSNA (OSNA group, n = 1086) from Zuyderland Medical Centre, the Netherlands, were compared to concurrent data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NKR) where sentinel nodes were examined by histology (histology group, n = 35,143). Primary outcomes were micro- or macrometastasis, axillary treatments (axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or axillary radiotherapy (ART)), chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Statistics with Pearson Chi-square. RESULTS In the OSNA group more micrometastasis (14.9%) were detected compared to the histology group (7.9%, p < 0.001). No difference in axillary treatment between groups was detected (14.3 vs. 14.4%). In case of mastectomy and macrometastasis, ALND was preferred over ART in the OSNA group (14.9%) compared to the histology group (4.4%, p < 0.001). In cases of micrometastasis, no difference was seen. There was no difference in administration of adjuvant chemotherapy between groups. Endocrine treatment was administrated less often in the OSNA group compared to the histology group (45.8% vs. 50.8%, p < 0.002). CONCLUSION More micrometastasis were detected by OSNA compared to histopathology, but no subsequent increase in adjuvant axillary and systematic treatment was noticed. When performing mastectomy and OSNA, there was a preference for ALND compared to ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth R M van Haaren
- Department of Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.
| | - Ingrid G M Poodt
- Department of Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
| | | | - James van Bastelaar
- Department of Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfred Janssen
- Department of Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart de Vries
- Department of Pathology, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Marc B I Lobbes
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
- GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lee H Bouwman
- Department of Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne L J Vissers
- Department of Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
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21
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Song SE, Cho KR, Cho Y, Jung SP, Park KH, Woo OH, Seo BK. Value of Breast MRI and Nomogram After Negative Axillary Ultrasound for Predicting Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With Clinically T1-2 N0 Breast Cancer. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e251. [PMID: 37644678 PMCID: PMC10462481 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are increasing concerns about that sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) could be omitted in patients with clinically T1-2 N0 breast cancers who has negative axillary ultrasound (AUS). This study aims to assess the false negative result (FNR) of AUS, the rate of high nodal burden (HNB) in clinically T1-2 N0 breast cancer patients, and the diagnostic performance of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nomogram. METHODS We identified 948 consecutive patients with clinically T1-2 N0 cancers who had negative AUS, subsequent MRI, and breast conserving therapy between 2013 and 2020 from two tertiary medical centers. Patients from two centers were assigned to development and validation sets, respectively. Among 948 patients, 402 (mean age ± standard deviation, 57.61 ± 11.58) were within development cohort and 546 (54.43 ± 10.02) within validation cohort. Using logistic regression analyses, clinical-imaging factors associated with lymph node (LN) metastasis were analyzed in the development set from which nomogram was created. The performance of MRI and nomogram was assessed. HNB was defined as ≥ 3 positive LNs. RESULTS The FNR of AUS was 20.1% (81 of 402) and 19.2% (105 of 546) and the rates of HNB were 1.2% (5/402) and 2.2% (12/546), respectively. Clinical and imaging features associated with LN metastasis were progesterone receptor positivity, outer tumor location on mammography, breast imaging reporting and data system category 5 assessment of cancer on ultrasound, and positive axilla on MRI. In validation cohorts, the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of MRI and clinical-imaging nomogram was 58.5% and 86.5%, and 56.0% and 82.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION The FNR of AUS was approximately 20% but the rate of HNB was low. The diagnostic performance of MRI was not satisfactory with low PPV but MRI had merit in reaffirming negative AUS with high NPV. Patients who had low probability scores from our clinical-imaging nomogram might be possible candidates for the omission of SLNB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Eun Song
- Department of Radiology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyu Ran Cho
- Department of Radiology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Yongwon Cho
- Department of Radiology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Pil Jung
- Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyong-Hwa Park
- Department of Oncology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ok Hee Woo
- Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bo Kyoung Seo
- Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea
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22
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Pesapane F, Mariano L, Magnoni F, Rotili A, Pupo D, Nicosia L, Bozzini AC, Penco S, Latronico A, Pizzamiglio M, Corso G, Cassano E. Future Directions in the Assessment of Axillary Lymph Nodes in Patients with Breast Cancer. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1544. [PMID: 37763661 PMCID: PMC10534800 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59091544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and accurate assessment of axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) is crucial for patient management and outcomes. We aim to summarize the current state of ALN assessment techniques in BC and provide insights into future directions. Materials and Methods: This review discusses various imaging techniques used for ALN evaluation, including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. It highlights advancements in these techniques and their potential to improve diagnostic accuracy. The review also examines landmark clinical trials that have influenced axillary management, such as the Z0011 trial and the IBCSG 23-01 trial. The role of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically deep learning algorithms, in improving ALN assessment is examined. Results: The review outlines the key findings of these trials, which demonstrated the feasibility of avoiding axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in certain patient populations with low sentinel lymph node (SLN) burden. It also discusses ongoing trials, including the SOUND trial, which investigates the use of axillary ultrasound to identify patients who can safely avoid sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Furthermore, the potential of emerging techniques and the integration of AI in enhancing ALN assessment accuracy are presented. Conclusions: The review concludes that advancements in ALN assessment techniques have the potential to improve patient outcomes by reducing surgical complications while maintaining accurate disease staging. However, challenges such as standardization of imaging protocols and interpretation criteria need to be addressed. Future research should focus on large-scale clinical trials to validate emerging techniques and establish their efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Over-all, this review provides valuable insights into the current status and future directions of ALN assessment in BC, highlighting opportunities for improving patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Pesapane
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (A.C.B.); (S.P.); (A.L.); (M.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Luciano Mariano
- Breast Imaging Division, AOU Città della Scienza e della Salute di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Francesca Magnoni
- Division of Breast Surgery, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.)
- European Cancer Prevention Organization (ECP), 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Rotili
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (A.C.B.); (S.P.); (A.L.); (M.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Davide Pupo
- Radiology Division, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Luca Nicosia
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (A.C.B.); (S.P.); (A.L.); (M.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Anna Carla Bozzini
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (A.C.B.); (S.P.); (A.L.); (M.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Silvia Penco
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (A.C.B.); (S.P.); (A.L.); (M.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Antuono Latronico
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (A.C.B.); (S.P.); (A.L.); (M.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Maria Pizzamiglio
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (A.C.B.); (S.P.); (A.L.); (M.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Giovanni Corso
- Division of Breast Surgery, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.)
- European Cancer Prevention Organization (ECP), 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Cassano
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (A.C.B.); (S.P.); (A.L.); (M.P.); (E.C.)
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23
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Del Castillo A, Gomez-Modet S, Mata JM, Tejedor L. Targeted axillary dissection using Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization technique in the clinically negative marked lymph node after neoadjuvant treatment in breast cancer patients. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY 2023; 49:1184-1188. [PMID: 36958951 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2023.03.208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To be aware of the feasibility of targeted axillary dissection (TAD) injecting 99mTechnetium-labeled macroaggregated albumin (99mTc-MAA) preoperatively into the clipped lymph node of patients with axillary complete clinical response (ycN0), after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective observational study was performed on N1 patients with a clipped positive node and a clinically negative axilla (ycN0) after NAC in one center. The pretreatment positive lymph node was injected with 99mTc-MAA the day before surgery and identified intraoperatively with a radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) technique. Patients were subjected to a TAD with the intent of identifying the clipped node and other/s sentinel nodes through a standard sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). RESULTS 54 patients and 55 axillary clipped nodes were included. The clip was intraoperatively encountered in every patient, accomplishing a 100% detection rate, although in one case no lymphatic tissue could be found in the intraoperative frozen section. An axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was avoided in 62.9% of the cases (34/54). CONCLUSION The use of the ROLL technique is a highly valuable tool since it allows a 100% success rate in retrieving the marker (and a 98.1% rate in detecting the clipped lymph node) in ycN0 breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Del Castillo
- General Surgery Service, Hospital Universitario Punta de Europa, Algeciras, 11207, Spain.
| | - Susana Gomez-Modet
- General Surgery Service, Hospital Universitario Punta de Europa, Algeciras, 11207, Spain.
| | - José María Mata
- General Surgery Service, Hospital Universitario Punta de Europa, Algeciras, 11207, Spain.
| | - Luis Tejedor
- General Surgery Service, Hospital Universitario Punta de Europa, Algeciras, 11207, Spain.
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24
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Record SM, Plichta JK. De-Escalation of Axillary Surgery for Older Patients with Breast Cancer: Supporting Data Continue to Accumulate. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:3882-3884. [PMID: 36820936 PMCID: PMC10441034 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-13299-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sydney M Record
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer K Plichta
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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25
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Heidinger M, Maggi N, Dutilh G, Mueller M, Eller RS, Loesch JM, Schwab FD, Kurzeder C, Weber WP. Use of sentinel lymph node biopsy in elderly patients with breast cancer - 10-year experience from a Swiss university hospital. World J Surg Oncol 2023; 21:176. [PMID: 37287038 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-023-03062-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Choosing Wisely initiative recommended the omission of routine sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients ≥ 70 years of age, with clinically node-negative, early stage, hormone receptor (HR) positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) negative breast cancer in August 2016. Here, we assess the adherence to this recommendation in a Swiss university hospital. METHODS We conducted a retrospective single center cohort study from a prospectively maintained database. Patients ≥ 18 years of age with node-negative breast cancer were treated between 05/2011 and 03/2022. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients in the Choosing Wisely target group who underwent SLNB before and after the initiative went live. Statistical significance was tested using chi-squared test for categorical and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous variables. RESULTS In total, 586 patients met the inclusion criteria with a median follow-up of 2.7 years. Of these, 163 were ≥ 70 years of age and 79 were eligible for treatment according to the Choosing Wisely recommendations. There was a trend toward a higher rate of SLNB (92.7% vs. 75.0%, p = 0.07) after the Choosing Wisely recommendations were published. In patients ≥ 70 years with invasive disease, fewer received adjuvant radiotherapy after omission of SLNB (6.2% vs. 64.0%, p < 0.001), without differences concerning adjuvant systemic therapy. Both short-term and long-term complication rates after SLNB were low, without differences between elderly patients and those < 70 years. CONCLUSIONS Choosing Wisely recommendations did not result in a decreased use of SLNB in the elderly at a Swiss university hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Heidinger
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Universitätsspital Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Nadia Maggi
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gilles Dutilh
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Ruth S Eller
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julie M Loesch
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne D Schwab
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Kurzeder
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Walter P Weber
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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26
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Weber WP, Davide Gentilini O, Morrow M, Montagna G, de Boniface J, Fitzal F, Wyld L, Rubio IT, Matrai Z, King TA, Saccilotto R, Galimberti V, Maggi N, Andreozzi M, Sacchini V, Castrezana López L, Loesch J, Schwab FD, Eller R, Heidinger M, Haug M, Kurzeder C, Di Micco R, Banys-Paluchowski M, Ditsch N, Harder Y, Paulinelli RR, Urban C, Benson J, Bjelic-Radisic V, Potter S, Knauer M, Thill M, Vrancken Peeters MJ, Kuemmel S, Heil J, Gulluoglu BM, Tausch C, Ganz-Blaettler U, Shaw J, Dubsky P, Poortmans P, Kaidar-Person O, Kühn T, Gnant M. Uncertainties and controversies in axillary management of patients with breast cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 117:102556. [PMID: 37126938 PMCID: PMC10752145 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this Oncoplastic Breast Consortium and European Breast Cancer Research Association of Surgical Trialists initiative were to identify uncertainties and controversies in axillary management of early breast cancer and to recommend appropriate strategies to address them. By use of Delphi methods, 15 questions were prioritized by more than 250 breast surgeons, patient advocates and radiation oncologists from 60 countries. Subsequently, a global virtual consensus panel considered available data, ongoing studies and resource utilization. It agreed that research should no longer be prioritized for standardization of axillary imaging, de-escalation of axillary surgery in node-positive cancer and risk evaluation of modern surgery and radiotherapy. Instead, expert consensus recommendations for clinical practice should be based on current evidence and updated once results from ongoing studies become available. Research on de-escalation of radiotherapy and identification of the most relevant endpoints in axillary management should encompass a meta-analysis to identify knowledge gaps, followed by a Delphi process to prioritize and a consensus conference to refine recommendations for specific trial designs. Finally, treatment of residual nodal disease after surgery was recommended to be assessed in a prospective register.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter P Weber
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | | | - Monica Morrow
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Giacomo Montagna
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jana de Boniface
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Surgery, Breast Unit, Capio St Göran's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Florian Fitzal
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria; Austrian Breast and Colorectal Study Group ABCSG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lynda Wyld
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster, UK
| | - Isabel T Rubio
- Breast Surgical Oncology Unit, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Madrid, Spain
| | - Zoltan Matrai
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Dept of Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tari A King
- Division of Breast Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber/Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ramon Saccilotto
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Nadia Maggi
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mariacarla Andreozzi
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Virgilio Sacchini
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Julie Loesch
- Gynecology Department, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne D Schwab
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ruth Eller
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Heidinger
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Haug
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Kurzeder
- Breast Center, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rosa Di Micco
- Breast Surgery, San Raffaele University and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Maggie Banys-Paluchowski
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Nina Ditsch
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Yves Harder
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Régis R Paulinelli
- Federal University of Goias, Goias, Brazil; Breast Unit, Araújo Jorge Hospital, Goias, Brazil
| | - Cicero Urban
- Breast Unit, Hospital Nossa Senhora Das Graças, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - John Benson
- Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Breast Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TRUST, School of Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Vesna Bjelic-Radisic
- Breast Unit, University Hospital Helios Wuppertal, University Witten/Herdecke, Wuppertal, Germany; Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Michael Knauer
- Tumor and Breast Center Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Marc Thill
- Department of Gynaecology and Gynaecological Oncology, Agaplesion Markus Krankenhaus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marie-Jeanne Vrancken Peeters
- Department of Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Surgery, University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sherko Kuemmel
- Breast Unit, Hospital Essen-Mitte, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Gynecology with Breast Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joerg Heil
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Heidelberg, Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Jane Shaw
- Patient Advocacy Group, Oncoplastic Breast Consortium, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Dubsky
- University of Lucerne, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Lucerne, Switzerland; Breast Centre, Hirslanden Clinic St. Anna, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Philip Poortmans
- Iridium Netwerk and University of Antwerp, Wilrijk-Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Orit Kaidar-Person
- Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy Unit, at Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel; GROW-School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Dept. Radiation Oncologv (Maastro), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Thorsten Kühn
- Department of Gynecology, Hospital Esslingen, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Michael Gnant
- Austrian Breast and Colorectal Study Group ABCSG, Vienna, Austria; Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Kim SY, Choi Y, Kim YS, Ha SM, Lee SH, Han W, Kim HK, Cho N, Moon WK, Chang JM. Use of imaging prediction model for omission of axillary surgery in early-stage breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 199:489-499. [PMID: 37097375 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-06952-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop a prediction model incorporating clinicopathological information, US, and MRI to diagnose axillary lymph node (LN) metastasis with acceptable false negative rate (FNR) in patients with early stage, clinically node-negative breast cancers. METHODS In this single center retrospective study, the inclusion criteria comprised women with clinical T1 or T2 and N0 breast cancers who underwent preoperative US and MRI between January 2017 and July 2018. Patients were temporally divided into the development and validation cohorts. Clinicopathological information, US, and MRI findings were collected. Two prediction models (US model and combined US and MRI model) were created using logistic regression analysis from the development cohort. FNRs of the two models were compared using the McNemar test. RESULTS A total of 964 women comprised the development (603 women, 54 ± 11 years) and validation (361 women, 53 ± 10 years) cohorts with 107 (18%) and 77 (21%) axillary LN metastases in each cohort, respectively. The US model consisted of tumor size and morphology of LN on US. The combined US and MRI model consisted of asymmetry of LN number, long diameter of LN, tumor type, and multiplicity of breast cancers on MRI, in addition to tumor size and morphology of LN on US. The combined model showed significantly lower FNR than the US model in both development (5% vs. 32%, P < .001) and validation (9% vs. 35%, P < .001) cohorts. CONCLUSION Our prediction model combining US and MRI characteristics of index cancer and LN lowered FNR compared to using US alone, and could potentially lead to avoid unnecessary SLNB in early stage, clinically node-negative breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Yeon Kim
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunhee Choi
- Medical Research Collaborating Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon Soo Kim
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Min Ha
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Hyun Lee
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonshik Han
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong-Kyu Kim
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nariya Cho
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Kyung Moon
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Min Chang
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Boersma LJ, Mjaaland I, van Duijnhoven F. Regional radiotherapy after primary systemic treatment for cN+ breast cancer patients. Breast 2023; 68:181-188. [PMID: 36805769 PMCID: PMC9975253 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathologic complete response (pCR) after Primary Systemic Treatment (PST) for breast cancer is associated with excellent long-term outcomes. With increasing use of PST, the indication for regional nodal irradiation (RNI) has been challenged. The aim of this paper is to review the literature on de-escalation of RNI in patients treated with PST. We found no level 1 evidence on de-escalation of RNI after PST, but several randomized trials are ongoing. Consequently, current de-escalation strategies are based on cohort studies. These studies showed that in patients with low nodal tumour burden (LNTB) (≤3 suspicious nodes at imaging) prior to PST, and ypN0 based on Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND), omission of RNI resulted in very low regional recurrences (RR) without compromising survival. In patients with LNTB and ypN0 based on Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB), omission of axillary treatment also resulted in low RR; the majority of these patients received local radiotherapy. Similarly, in patients with ypN1 (ALND) disease, omission of RNI resulted in low 5-year RR rates. Low RR-rates were also found in the few studies replacing ALND by RNI, in patients with ypN1 (SLNB) disease. In patients with high nodal tumour burden prior to PST and ypN0 (SLNB), replacing ALND by RNI also resulted in low RR. Due to the limited number of patients, these data should be interpreted with caution. We conclude that although level 1 evidence is lacking, de-escalation of RNI after PST can be considered in selected cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesbeth J Boersma
- Dept. Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW-School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Ingvil Mjaaland
- Division of Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
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Laws A, Kantor O, King TA. Surgical Management of the Axilla for Breast Cancer. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2023; 37:51-77. [PMID: 36435614 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This review discusses the contemporary surgical management of the axilla in patients with breast cancer. Surgical paradigms are highlighted by clinical nodal status at presentation and treatment approach, including upfront surgery and neoadjuvant systemic therapy settings. This review focuses on the increasing opportunities for de-escalating the extent of axillary surgery in the era of sentinel lymph node biopsy, while also reviewing the remaining indications for axillary clearance with axillary lymph node dissection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Laws
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Olga Kantor
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tari A King
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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30
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Schwartz T, Marumoto AD, Giuliano AE. Surgical Management of the Axilla in Breast Cancer: Evolving but Still Necessary. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:1008-1013. [PMID: 36194309 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12605-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Schwartz
- Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ashley D Marumoto
- Department of Surgery, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Armando E Giuliano
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Reimer T. Omission of axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy in early invasive breast cancer. Breast 2023; 67:124-128. [PMID: 36658052 PMCID: PMC9982316 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Local treatment of the axilla in clinically node-negative (cN0) early breast cancer patients with routine sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is debated after publication of ACOSOG Z0011 data in 2010. Currently, prospective randomized surgical trials investigating the omission of SLNB in upfront breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and in the neoadjuvant setting, respectively. Several prospective randomized trials (SOUND, INSEMA, BOOG 2013-08, and NAUTILUS) with axillary observation alone versus SLNB in cN0 patients and primary BCS have primary objectives to evaluate oncologic safety when omitting SLNB. The Italian SOUND trial was the earliest to open in 2012 and has completed accrual in 2017. First oncologic outcome data are expected soon for SOUND and at the end of 2024 for INSEMA. Improvements in systemic treatments for breast cancer have increased the rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST), offering the opportunity to de-escalate surgery in patients who have a pCR. Two prospective single-arm trials (EUBREAST-01, ASICS) include only patients with the highest likelihood of having a pCR after NAST (triple-negative or HER2-positive breast cancer) and type of surgery will be defined according to the response to NAST rather than on the classical T and N status. The ongoing trials will hopefully help us to understand whether we might take the best therapeutic decisions without the pathologic evaluation of nodal status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toralf Reimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Südring 81, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
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Reimer T, Stachs A, Veselinovic K, Polata S, Müller T, Kühn T, Heil J, Ataseven B, Reitsamer R, Hildebrandt G, Knauer M, Golatta M, Stefek A, Zahm DM, Thill M, Nekljudova V, Krug D, Loibl S, Gerber B. Patient-reported outcomes for the Intergroup Sentinel Mamma study (INSEMA): A randomised trial with persistent impact of axillary surgery on arm and breast symptoms in patients with early breast cancer. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 55:101756. [PMID: 36457648 PMCID: PMC9706517 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In clinically node-negative breast cancer patients, the INSEMA trial (NCT02466737) assessed the non-inferiority of avoiding sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Here we present patient-reported outcomes (PROs) as a secondary endpoint. METHODS PROs were assessed for patients with no axillary surgery, SLNB alone, and ALND. Quality of life (QoL) questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 and its breast cancer module (BR23) were used at baseline (pre-surgery) and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after surgery. The QoL scores were compared using repeated measures mixed models based on the safety set. FINDINGS Between 2015 and 2019, 5502 patients were recruited for the first randomization, and 5154 were included in the intent-to-treat set (4124 SLNB versus 1030 no SLNB). In the case of one to three macrometastases after SLNB, 485 patients underwent second randomization (242 SLNB alone versus 243 ALND). Questionnaire completion response remained high throughout the trial: over 70% at all time points for the first randomization. There were significant differences for the BRBS (breast symptoms) and BRAS (arm symptoms) scores favoring the no SLNB group in all post-baseline assessments. Patients in the SLNB group showed significantly and clinically relevant higher scores for BRAS (differences in mean values ≥5.0 points at all times), including pain, arm swelling, and impaired mobility in all postoperative visits, with the highest difference at one month after surgery. Scoring of the QLQ-C30 questionnaire revealed no relevant differences between the treatment groups, although some comparisons were statistically significant. INTERPRETATION This is one of the first randomized trials investigating the omission of SLNB in clinically node-negative patients and the first to report comprehensive QoL data. Patients with no SLNB benefitted regarding arm symptoms/functioning, while no relevant differences in other scales were seen. FUNDING Supported by German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe, Bonn, Germany), Grant No. 110580 and Grant No. 70110580 to University Medicine Rostock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toralf Reimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Südring 81, 18059 Rostock, Germany
- Corresponding author. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Rostock, Suedring 81, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Angrit Stachs
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Südring 81, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Kristina Veselinovic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstr. 43, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Silke Polata
- Breast Center, Evangelisches Waldkrankenhaus Spandau, Stadtrandstr. 555, 13589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Müller
- Women's Hospital, Klinikum Hanau GmbH, Leimenstr. 20, 63450 Hanau, Germany
| | - Thorsten Kühn
- Women's Hospital, Klinikum Esslingen, Hirschlandstr. 97, 73730 Esslingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Heil
- Breast Unit, University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beyhan Ataseven
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Evang. Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Henricistr. 92, 45136 Essen, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Roland Reitsamer
- Breast Center, LKH Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University Clinics, Müllner Hauptstr. 48, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Guido Hildebrandt
- Department of Radiotherapy, University of Rostock, Südring 75, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Michael Knauer
- Brustzentrum Ost, Rohrschacher Str. 286, CH-9016 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Michael Golatta
- Breast Unit, Sankt Elisabeth Hospital, Max-Reger-Str. 5-7, 69121 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Stefek
- Women's Hospital, Johanniter-Hospital Stendal, Wendstr. 31, 39576 Stendal, Germany
| | - Dirk-Michael Zahm
- Breast Center, SRH Waldklinikum Gera, Str. des Friedens 122, 07548 Gera, Germany
| | - Marc Thill
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, Agaplesion Markus Hospital, W.-Epstein-Str. 4, 60431 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | | | - David Krug
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Arnold-Heller-Str., 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Sibylle Loibl
- German Breast Group, Dornhofstr. 10, 63263 Neu-Isenburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Gerber
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Südring 81, 18059 Rostock, Germany
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Ceylan C, Pehlevan Ozel H, Agackiran I, Altun Ozdemir B, Atas H, Menekse E. Preoperative predictive factors affecting sentinel lymph node positivity in breast cancer and comparison of their effectiveness with existing nomograms. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e32170. [PMID: 36482614 PMCID: PMC9726412 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to establish a strong regression model by revealing the preoperative predictive factors for sentinel lymph node (SLN) positivity in patients with early stage breast cancer (ESBC). In total, 445 patients who underwent SLN dissection for ESBC were included. All data that may be potential predictors of SLN positivity were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor size >2 cm, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) + status, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), palpable tumor, microcalcifications, multifocality or multicentricity, and axillary ultrasonographic findings were defined as independent predictors of SLN involvement. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) values were 0.797, 0.808, and 0.870 for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram, MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) nomogram, and our regression model, respectively (P < .001). The recent model for predicting SLN status in ESBC was found to be stronger than existing nomograms. Parameters not included in current nomograms, such as palpable tumors, microcalcifications, and axillary ultrasonographic findings, are likely to make this model more meaningful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cengiz Ceylan
- Department of Surgery, Inönü University, Malatya, Turkey
- * Correspondence: Cengiz Ceylan, Department of Surgery, Inönü University, Malatya, Yeşilyurt 44915, Turkey (e-mail: )
| | | | - Ibrahim Agackiran
- Department of Surgery, Elaziğ Fethi Sekin City Hospital, Elazıital, Elaziğ, Turkey
| | | | - Hakan Atas
- Department of Surgery, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ebru Menekse
- Department of Surgery, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
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Barco I, García-Fdez A, Vallejo E, Tarroch X, Ysamat M, Báez CJ, Fraile M. Intraoperative Sentinel Node Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy as a Substitute for Whole Sentinel Node Excisional Biopsy in Breast Cancer Patients. Initial Report. Clin Breast Cancer 2022; 22:e877-e880. [PMID: 36127248 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2022.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) is the choice procedure for axillary staging in Breast Cancer. Following the ACOSOG Z11 trial, axillary dissection is advised only in patients with more than 2 positive SNs. We aimed at exploring palpation-guided, intraoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the SN as a replacement for whole SN excision in node-negative BC patients to minimize side-effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS We included 80 patients with BC undergoing SNB between December 2020 and May 2022. After identification of the SN, the breast surgeon performed SN-FNAB. Results were compared with definitive pathological assessment. ResultsDiagnostic yield was 80%, including a "learning curve." 58 of 64 patients with suitable samples tested negative. In this group, the Negative Predictive Value was 77.6% (IC 64.7%-87.5 %). If micro metastasis is disregarded, the NPV would increase to 86.2% (IC 74.6%-93.9%). If we accept the Z11 criterion for axillary dissection, the NPV would rise to 100%. Six patients had a positive SN-FNAB. They were all confirmed as having macro metastatic-positive SNs at the final pathological assessment, and 3 of them also displayed extra nodal extension (ENE). CONCLUSION We believe that intraoperative SN-FNAB is highly accurate for swiftly depicting both low axillary tumor burden/negative cases, in whom axillary dissection is to be omitted, as well as high axillary tumor burden cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel Barco
- Breast Unit, Department of Gynecology. Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa. Universitat de Barcelona. Terrassa. Spain.
| | - Antonio García-Fdez
- Breast Unit, Department of Gynecology. Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa. Universitat de Barcelona. Terrassa. Spain
| | - Elena Vallejo
- Breast Unit, Department of Gynecology. Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa. Universitat de Barcelona. Terrassa. Spain
| | - Xavier Tarroch
- Breast Unit, Department of Pathology. Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa. Universitat de Barcelona. Terrassa. Spain
| | - Montse Ysamat
- Breast Unit, Department of Nuclear Medicine. Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa. Universitat de Barcelona. Terrassa. Spain
| | - Cinthya J Báez
- Breast Unit, Department of Pathology. Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa. Universitat de Barcelona. Terrassa. Spain
| | - Manel Fraile
- Breast Unit, Department of Nuclear Medicine. Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa. Universitat de Barcelona. Terrassa. Spain
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Sousa N, Peleteiro B, Fougo JL. Total Tumor Load to assist in the decision for additional axillary surgery in the positive sentinel node breast cancer patients. Surg Oncol 2022; 45:101882. [PMID: 36395579 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2022.101882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The Total Tumor Load (TTL) concept has been demonstrated to accurately predict the status of the non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) in breast cancer patients. In 2019, our center implemented the TTL cut-off of 30,000 CK19 mRNA copies/μL as sole criterion for deciding on performing ALND. This retrospective, unicentric, study analyzed 87 cT1-3N0 breast cancer patients treated consecutively in a period of two years and aimed to evaluate the performance of this criterion. Secondary objectives included the comparison of the criterion versus our previous Clinical Decision Rule (CDR) versus ACOSOG Z0011 criteria for avoiding an ALND in proportion of patients spared an ALND and in proportion of patients left with a surgically untreated metastasized axilla. An interim analysis revealed new TTL cut-offs for deciding on performing an ALND. The 30,000 CK19 mRNA copies/μL criterion yielded an area under the ROC Curve (AUC) of 0.849, a false positive (FP) rate of 30.1% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 38.9%. The 30,000 CK19 mRNA copies/μL criterion spared 58.6% of the patients an ALND versus 41.4% with CDR versus 73.6% with Z0011 and left 0.0% patients with a surgically untreated metastasized axilla versus 21.4% with CDR versus 42.9% with Z0011. The new TTL cut-off of 260,000 CK19 mRNA copies/μL for deciding on an ALND yielded an AUC of 0.753, a FP rate of 13.7% and a PPV of 47.4%. This new criterion spared 78.2% of the study sample an ALND and left 35.7% of metastasized axillae surgically untreated. This study emphasizes the need to find a new balance between locoregional control and the morbidity associated with Berg levels I + II axillary lymph node dissection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Sousa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal.
| | - Bárbara Peleteiro
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; Breast Center, Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Portugal; EPI Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Portugal; Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Portugal.
| | - José Luis Fougo
- Breast Center, Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Portugal; Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal.
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Pilewskie M, Sevilimedu V, Eroglu I, Le T, Wang R, Morrow M, Braunstein LZ. How Often Do Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Results Affect Adjuvant Therapy Decisions Among Postmenopausal Women with Early-Stage HR +/HER2 - Breast Cancer in the Post-RxPONDER Era? Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:6267-6273. [PMID: 35849294 PMCID: PMC10286823 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12193-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The RxPONDER trial reported no benefit to chemotherapy among postmenopausal patients with HR+/HER2- tumors, one to three positive nodes, and low recurrence scores, questioning the role of axillary staging in this population. Here, we evaluate the impact of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) results on adjuvant therapy decisions in postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2- breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Postmenopausal women with cT1-2N0, HR+/HER2- breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and SLNB from 2012 to 2018 were identified. Receipt of nodal irradiation, indication for axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and chemotherapy, and partial breast irradiation (PBI) eligibility were reviewed with pre- and post-SLNB results. RESULTS A total of 1786 women were identified: median age 62 years, 84% with pT1 tumors, and 16% with pT2-3 tumors. Of those, 85% (n = 1525) remained pN0, 14% (n = 244) were pN1, and 1% (n = 17) were pN2-3. A total of 20 (1%) patients had > 2 positive SLNs, necessitating ALND. Pre-SLNB, 1478 women were considered PBI eligible; post-SLNB, 227 (13%) converted to PBI ineligible. In total, 58 patients with positive nodes received nodal irradiation, representing 3% of the entire cohort and 22% of pN+ patients. Overall, 1401 patients had an Oncotype DX recurrence score available, including 1273 patients with pN0 stage and 128 with pN1, with 173 (14%) and 16 (13%), respectively, having a recurrence score > 25, warranting chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS While few cN0 postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2- tumors had nodal pathology that warranted ALND, receipt of nodal irradiation, or indicated need for chemotherapy, in 13%, SLNB would have an impact on consideration for PBI. Among patients eligible for PBI, findings from SLNB may help refine selection among postmenopausal women with this tumor profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Pilewskie
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Varadan Sevilimedu
- Biostatistics Service, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Idil Eroglu
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tiana Le
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Breast Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Monica Morrow
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lior Z Braunstein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Collagen fiber features and COL1A1: are they associated with elastic parameters in breast lesions, and can COL1A1 predict axillary lymph node metastasis? BMC Cancer 2022; 22:1004. [PMID: 36131254 PMCID: PMC9490982 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10092-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to explore whether collagen fiber features and collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) are related to the stiffness of breast lesions and whether COL1A1 can predict axillary lymph node metastasis (LNM). Methods Ninety-four patients with breast lesions were consecutively enrolled in the study. Amongst the 94 lesions, 30 were benign, and 64 were malignant (25 were accompanied by axillary lymph node metastasis). Ultrasound (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE) were performed for each breast lesion before surgery. Sirius red and immunohistochemical staining were used to examine the shape and arrangement of collagen fibers and COL1A1 expression in the included tissue samples. We analyzed the correlation between the staining results and SWE parameters and investigated the effectiveness of COL1A1 expression levels in predicting axillary LNM. Results The optimal cut-off values for Emax, Emean, and Eratio for diagnosing the benign and malignant groups, were 58.70 kPa, 52.50 kPa, and 3.05, respectively. The optimal cutoff for predicting axillary LNM were 107.5 kPa, 85.15 kPa, and 3.90, respectively. Herein, the collagen fiber shape and arrangement features in breast lesions were classified into three categories. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that Emax, Emean, and Eratio differed between categories 0, 1, and 2 (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, elasticity parameters were positively correlated with collagen categories and COL1A1 expression. The COL1A1 expression level > 0.145 was considered the cut-off value, and its efficacy in benign and malignant breast lesions was 0.808, with a sensitivity of 66% and a specificity of 90%. Furthermore, when the COL1A1 expression level > 0.150 was considered the cut-off, its efficacy in predicting axillary LNM was 0.796, with sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 59%, respectively. Conclusions The collagen fiber features and expression levels of COL1A1 positively correlated with the elastic parameters of breast lesions. The expression of COL1A1 may help diagnose benign and malignant breast lesions and predict axillary LNM.
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Gao X, Luo W, He L, Yang L. Nomogram models for stratified prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients (cN0). Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:967062. [PMID: 36111297 PMCID: PMC9468373 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.967062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To determine the predictors of axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM), two nomogram models were constructed to accurately predict the status of axillary lymph nodes (ALNs), mainly high nodal tumour burden (HNTB, > 2 positive lymph nodes), low nodal tumour burden (LNTB, 1-2 positive lymph nodes) and negative ALNM (N0). Accordingly, more appropriate treatment strategies for breast cancer patients without clinical ALNM (cN0) could be selected. Methods From 2010 to 2015, a total of 6314 patients with invasive breast cancer (cN0) were diagnosed in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and randomly assigned to the training and internal validation groups at a ratio of 3:1. As the external validation group, data from 503 breast cancer patients (cN0) who underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2011 and December 2020 were collected. The predictive factors determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to construct the nomograms. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration plots were used to assess the prediction models' discrimination and calibration. Results Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that tumour size, primary site, molecular subtype and grade were independent predictors of both ALNM and HNTB. Moreover, histologic type and age were independent predictors of ALNM and HNTB, respectively. Integrating these independent predictors, two nomograms were successfully developed to accurately predict the status of ALN. For nomogram 1 (prediction of ALNM), the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in the training, internal validation and external validation groups were 0.715, 0.688 and 0.876, respectively. For nomogram 2 (prediction of HNTB), the areas under the ROC curve in the training, internal validation and external validation groups were 0.842, 0.823 and 0.862. The above results showed a satisfactory performance. Conclusion We established two nomogram models to predict the status of ALNs (N0, 1-2 positive ALNs or >2 positive ALNs) for breast cancer patients (cN0). They were well verified in further internal and external groups. The nomograms can help doctors make more accurate treatment plans, and avoid unnecessary surgical trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenpei Luo
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingyun He
- Scientific Research and Education Section, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Omission of axillary surgery for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence with negative nodes after previous breast-conserving surgery: is it oncologically safe? Breast Cancer Res Treat 2022; 196:97-109. [PMID: 36040640 PMCID: PMC9550716 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06708-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Salvage mastectomy is traditionally recommended for patients who developed ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) in light of previous breast irradiation. However, it remains controversial whether surgical axillary staging (SAS) is necessary for IBTR patients with negative nodes. This study aimed to evaluate the oncologic safety of omitting SAS for IBTR. Methods We retrospectively identified patients who developed invasive IBTR with negative nodes after undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS) from 2010 to 2018. Patterns of care in nodal staging were analyzed based on prior axillary staging status. Clinicopathologic characteristics and adjuvant treatment of the initial tumor, as well as the IBTR, were compared between the SAS and no SAS groups. Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression model were utilized to compare the locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS) rates after IBTR removal between the two groups. Results A total of 154 IBTR patients were eligible for final analysis. Compared to the no SAS group, SAS group was less likely to undergo ALND (15.1 vs 73.3%, p < 0.001) at initial BCS, had a longer recurrence interval (2.8 vs 2.1 years, p = 0.03), and were more likely to have discordant molecular subtype (35.8 vs 12.9%, p = 0.001) and different quadrant location (37.7 vs 19.8%, p = 0.02) with primary tumor. However, the extent of axillary staging did not affect systemic or radiation recommendations. In the subgroup of patients without previous ALND, the clinicopathologic characteristics were roughly comparable. No significant differences were observed in LRRFS, DMFS or OS between the two groups. Conclusion For node-negative IBTR patients, we observed selection bias on the basis of prior ALND, shorter recurrence interval, and concordant molecular subtype favoring no SAS but comparable LRRFS, DMFS, and OS. These results support a wider consideration of sparing SAS in the management of IBTR, especially in patients without previous ALND. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10549-022-06708-y.
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Zheng M, Huang Y, Peng J, Xia Y, Cui Y, Han X, Wang S, Xie H. Optimal Selection of Imaging Examination for Lymph Node Detection of Breast Cancer With Different Molecular Subtypes. Front Oncol 2022; 12:762906. [PMID: 35912264 PMCID: PMC9326026 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.762906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Axillary lymph node management is an important part of breast cancer surgery and the accuracy of preoperative imaging evaluation can provide adequate information to guide operation. Different molecular subtypes of breast cancer have distinct imaging characteristics. This article was aimed to evaluate the predictive ability of imaging methods in accessing the status of axillary lymph node in different molecular subtypes. Methods A total of 2,340 patients diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer after breast surgery from 2013 to 2018 in Jiangsu Breast Disease Center, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University were included in the study. We collected lymph node assessment results from mammography, ultrasounds, and MRIs, performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and calculated the sensitivity and specificity of each test. The C-statistic among different imaging models were compared in different molecular subtypes to access the predictive abilities of these imaging models in evaluating the lymph node metastasis. Results In Her-2 + patients, the C-statistic of ultrasound was better than that of MRI (0.6883 vs. 0.5935, p=0.0003). The combination of ultrasound and MRI did not raise the predictability compared to ultrasound alone (p=0.492). In ER/PR+HER2- patients, the C-statistic of ultrasound was similar with that of MRI (0.7489 vs. 0.7650, p=0.5619). Ultrasound+MRI raised the prediction accuracy compared to ultrasound alone (p=0.0001). In ER/PR-HER2- patients, the C-statistics of ultrasound was similar with MRI (0.7432 vs. 0.7194, p=0.5579). Combining ultrasound and MRI showed no improvement in the prediction accuracy compared to ultrasound alone (p=0.0532). Conclusion From a clinical perspective, for Her-2+ patients, ultrasound was the most recommended examination to assess the status of axillary lymph node metastasis. For ER/PR+HER2- patients, we suggested that the lymph node should be evaluated by ultrasound plus MRI. For ER/PR-Her2- patients, ultrasound or MRI were both optional examinations in lymph node assessment. Furthermore, more new technologies should be explored, especially for Her2+ patients, to further raise the prediction accuracy of lymph node assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Shui Wang
- *Correspondence: Shui Wang, ; Hui Xie,
| | - Hui Xie
- *Correspondence: Shui Wang, ; Hui Xie,
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41
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Skarping I, Nilsson K, Dihge L, Fridhammar A, Ohlsson M, Huss L, Bendahl PO, Steen Carlsson K, Rydén L. The implementation of a noninvasive lymph node staging (NILS) preoperative prediction model is cost effective in primary breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2022; 194:577-586. [PMID: 35790694 PMCID: PMC9287207 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06636-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The need for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in clinically node-negative (cN0) patients is currently questioned. Our objective was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of a preoperative noninvasive lymph node staging (NILS) model (an artificial neural network model) for predicting pathological nodal status in patients with cN0 breast cancer (BC). Methods A health-economic decision-analytic model was developed to evaluate the utility of the NILS model in reducing the proportion of cN0 patients with low predicted risk undergoing SLNB. The model used information from a national registry and published studies, and three sensitivity/specificity scenarios of the NILS model were evaluated. Subgroup analysis explored the outcomes of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy. The results are presented as cost (€) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per 1000 patients. Results All three scenarios of the NILS model reduced total costs (–€93,244 to –€398,941 per 1000 patients). The overall health benefit allowing for the impact of SLNB complications was a net health gain (7.0–26.9 QALYs per 1000 patients). Sensitivity analyses disregarding reduced quality of life from lymphedema showed a small loss in total health benefits (0.4–4.0 QALYs per 1000 patients) because of the reduction in total life years (0.6–6.5 life years per 1000 patients) after reduced adjuvant treatment. Subgroup analyses showed greater cost reductions and QALY gains in patients undergoing BCS. Conclusion Implementing the NILS model to identify patients with low risk for nodal metastases was associated with substantial cost reductions and likely overall health gains, especially in patients undergoing BCS. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10549-022-06636-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Skarping
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. .,Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
| | | | - Looket Dihge
- Division of Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | | | - Mattias Ohlsson
- Division of Computational Biology and Biological Physics, Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Linnea Huss
- Division of Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences Helsingborg, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Surgery, Helsingborg General Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden
| | - Pär-Ola Bendahl
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Katarina Steen Carlsson
- The Swedish Institute for Health Economics, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Health Economics, Lund University, Malmö, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lisa Rydén
- Division of Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Surgery and Gastroenterology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION As breast cancer treatment options have multiplied and biologic diversity within breast cancer has been recognized, the use of the same treatment strategies for patients with early-stage and favorable disease, and for those with biologically aggressive disease, has been questioned. In addition, as patient-reported outcome measures have called attention to the morbidity of many common treatments, and as the cost of breast cancer care has continued to increase, reduction in the overtreatment of breast cancer has assumed increasing importance. AREAS COVERED Here we review selected aspects of surgery, radiation oncology, and medical oncology for which scientific evidence supports de-escalation for invasive carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ, and assess strategies to address overtreatment. EXPERT OPINION The problems of breast cancer overtreatment we face today are based on improved understanding of the biology of breast cancer and abandonment of the 'one-size-fits-all' approach. As breast cancer care becomes increasingly complex, and as our knowledge base continues to increase exponentially, these problems will only be magnified in the future. To continue progress, the move must be made from advocating the maximum-tolerated treatment to advocating the minimum-effective one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda M Pak
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
| | - Monica Morrow
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
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Jung JG, Ahn SH, Lee S, Kim EK, Ryu JM, Park S, Lim W, Jung YS, Chung IY, Jeong J, Chang JH, Shin KH, Chang JM, Moon WK, Han W. No axillary surgical treatment for lymph node-negative patients after ultra-sonography [NAUTILUS]: protocol of a prospective randomized clinical trial. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:189. [PMID: 35184724 PMCID: PMC8859876 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09273-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Following sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), the axillary recurrence rate is very low although SLNB has a false-negative rate of 5–10%. In the ACOSOG Z0011 trial, non-sentinel positive-lymph nodes were found in more than 20% of the axillary dissection group; the SLNB only group did not have a higher axillary recurrence rate. These findings raised questions about the direct therapeutic effect of the SLNB. SLNB has post-surgical complications including lymphedema. Considering advances in imaging modalities and adjuvant therapies, the role of SLNB in early breast cancer needs to be re-evaluated. Methods The NAUTILUS trial is a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial involving clinical stage T1–2 and N0 breast cancer patients receiving breast-conserving surgery. Axillary ultrasound is mandatory before surgery with predefined imaging criteria for inclusion. Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy or needle aspiration of a suspicious node is allowed. Patients will be randomized (1:1) into the no-SLNB (test) and SLNB (control) groups. A total of 1734 patients are needed, considering a 5% non-inferiority margin, 5% significance level, 80% statistical power, and 10% dropout rate. All patients in the two groups will receive ipsilateral whole-breast radiation according to a predefined protocol. The primary endpoint of this trial is the 5-year invasive disease-free survival. The secondary endpoints are overall survival, distant metastasis-free survival, axillary recurrence rate, and quality of life of the patients. Discussion This trial will provide important evidence on the oncological safety of the omission of SLNB for early breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery and receiving whole-breast radiation, especially when the axillary lymph node is not suspicious during preoperative axillary ultrasound. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04303715. Registered on March 11, 2020.
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de Wild SR, Simons JM, Vrancken Peeters MJTFD, Smidt ML, Koppert LB. De-Escalating Axillary Surgery in Node-Positive Breast Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy. Breast Care (Basel) 2022; 16:584-589. [PMID: 35087361 DOI: 10.1159/000518376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is a trend towards de-escalating axillary staging and treatment in breast cancer patients. On account of neoadjuvant systemic therapy, node-positive breast cancer patients can achieve a pathological complete response of the axilla. It is hypothesized that these patients do not benefit from an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), and thus may be spared the risk of severe post-surgical morbidity. In an effort to omit standard ALND, less invasive axillary staging procedures are being implemented to establish response-guided treatment. However, it is unclear which less invasive staging procedure is most accurate, and long-term data are missing with regard to their oncologic safety. Summary This article provides an overview of the literature on currently used less invasive axillary staging procedures, the accuracy and feasibility of these procedures in clinical practice, important issues concerning axillary treatment, and issues to be addressed in ongoing or future studies. Key messages More evidence is needed regarding the safety of replacing standard ALND by less invasive axillary staging procedures in terms of long-term prognosis. These less invasive staging procedures not only serve to select patients who may benefit from treatment de-escalation, but also to select patients who may benefit from treatment escalation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine R de Wild
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Janine M Simons
- Department of Radiotherapy, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marie-Jeanne T F D Vrancken Peeters
- Department of Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein L Smidt
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Linetta B Koppert
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Ryu JM, Choi HJ, Park EH, Kim JY, Lee YJ, Park S, Lee J, Park HK, Nam SJ, Kim SW, Lee JH, Lee JE. Relationship Between Breast and Axillary Pathologic Complete Response According to Clinical Nodal Stage: A Nationwide Study From Korean Breast Cancer Society. J Breast Cancer 2022; 25:94-105. [PMID: 35506578 PMCID: PMC9065358 DOI: 10.4048/jbc.2022.25.e17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose We evaluated the relationship between breast pathologic complete response (BpCR) and axillary pathologic complete response (ApCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) according to nodal burden at presentation. As the indications for NACT have expanded, clinicians have started clinical trials for the omission of surgery from the treatment plan in patients with excellent responses to NACT. However, the appropriate indications for axillary surgery omission after excellent NACT response remain unclear. Methods Data were collected from patients in the Korean Breast Cancer Society Registry who underwent NACT followed by surgery between 2010 and 2020. We analyzed pathologic axillary nodal positivity after NACT according to BpCR stratified by tumor subtype in patients with cT1-3/N0-2 disease at diagnosis. Results A total of 6,597 patients were identified. Regarding cT stage, 528 (9.5%), 3,778 (67.8%), and 1,268 (22.7%) patients had cT1, cT2, and cT3 disease, respectively. Regarding cN stage, 1,539 (27.7%), 2,976 (53.6%), and 1,036 (18.7%) patients had cN0, cN1, and cN2 disease, respectively. BpCR occurred in 21.6% (n = 1,427) of patients, while ApCR and pathologic complete response (ypCR) occurred in 59.7% (n = 3,929) and ypCR 19.4% (n = 1,285) of patients, respectively. The distribution of biologic subtypes included 2,329 (39.3%) patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative disease, 1,122 (18.9%) with HR-positive/HER2-positive disease, 405 (6.8%) with HR-negative/HER2-positive disease, and 2,072 (35.0%) with triple-negative breast cancer . Among the patients with BpCR, 89.6% (1,122/1,252) had ApCR. Of those with cN0 disease, most (99.0%, 301/304) showed ApCR. Among patients with cN1-2 disease, 86.6% (821/948) had ApCR. Conclusion BpCR was highly correlated with ApCR after NACT. In patients with cN0 and BpCR, the risk of missing axillary nodal metastasis was low after NACT. Further research on axillary surgery omission in patients with cN0 disease is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jai Min Ryu
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Jun Choi
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea
| | - Eun Hwa Park
- Department of Surgery, Dong-A University Hospital, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Ji Young Kim
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University Hospital, Suwon, Korea
| | - Young Joo Lee
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seho Park
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeeyeon Lee
- Division of Breast Surgery, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Heung Kyu Park
- Department of Breast Cancer Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea
| | - Seok Jin Nam
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seok Won Kim
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun-Hee Lee
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeong Eon Lee
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Chang JM, Shin HJ, Choi JS, Shin SU, Choi BH, Kim MJ, Yoon JH, Chung J, Kim TH, Han BK, Kim HH, Moon WK. Imaging Protocol and Criteria for Evaluation of Axillary Lymph Nodes in the NAUTILUS Trial. J Breast Cancer 2021; 24:554-560. [PMID: 34877830 PMCID: PMC8724375 DOI: 10.4048/jbc.2021.24.e47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Axillary ultrasonography (US) is the most commonly used imaging modality for nodal evaluation in patients with breast cancer. No Axillary Surgical Treatment in Clinically Lymph Node-Negative Patients after Ultrasonography (NAUTILUS) is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial investigating whether sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) can be safely omitted in patients with clinically and sonographically node-negative T1–2 breast cancer treated with breast-conserving therapy. In this trial, a standardized imaging protocol and criteria were established for the evaluation of axillary lymph nodes. Women lacking palpable lymph nodes underwent axillary US to dismiss suspicious nodal involvement. Patients with a round hypoechoic node with effaced hilum or indistinct margins were excluded. Patients with T1 tumors and a single node with a cortical thickness ≥ 3 mm underwent US-guided biopsy. Finally, patients with negative axillary US findings were included. The NAUTILUS axillary US nodal assessment criteria facilitate the proper selection of candidates who can omit SLNB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Min Chang
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Jung Shin
- Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji Soo Choi
- Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Ui Shin
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bo Hwa Choi
- Department of Radiology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Min Jung Kim
- Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung Hyun Yoon
- Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Chung
- Department of Radiology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Hee Kim
- Department of Radiology, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, Korea
| | - Boo-Kyung Han
- Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hak Hee Kim
- Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woo Kyung Moon
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
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Jatoi I, Kunkler IH. Omission of sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer: Historical context and future perspectives on a modern controversy. Cancer 2021; 127:4376-4383. [PMID: 34614216 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
For older patients with clinically lymph node-negative breast cancer who have estrogen receptor-positive tumors and are treated with tamoxifen, randomized trials comparing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) versus no ALND show that the omission of ALND improves patient quality of life and has no adverse effects on mortality. These results have served to justify sentinel node biopsy (SNB) omission in selected older patients with breast cancer. More recently, clinical trials were launched to assess SNB omission in younger patients, with recurrence and survival as the primary outcomes of interest. Three important considerations serve as the basis for these ongoing trials. First, it is assumed that SNB omission will improve patient quality of life, although, to date, there is no level I evidence to support this assumption. Second, axillary surgery has never been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality, but it does reduce the risk of axillary recurrences, although adjuvant systemic therapy and radiotherapy also reduce these recurrence risks. Finally, nodal status is losing importance as a guide for adjuvant systemic therapy decision making because these decisions are now increasingly predicated on tumor biomarkers and gene profiling, but it is gaining importance for adjuvant radiotherapy decision making. Because quality-of-life considerations are the primary motivation for abandoning SNB, there is a need for randomized trials comparing SNB versus no SNB/no axillary surgery, with quality of life as the primary end point (level I evidence). Moreover, suitable alternatives to guide adjuvant radiotherapy decision making will require validation before SNB omission can be justified for patients of all ages who have clinically node-negative breast cancer. LAY SUMMARY: In this review article, the authors provide a brief historical overview of the role of axillary surgery in breast cancer management and discuss additional studies and ramifications that should be considered before abandoning the sentinel node biopsy (SNB) procedure. Specifically, there is a need for level I evidence demonstrating that omission of the SNB procedure will improve patient quality of life and a need to validate suitable alternatives to SNB as a guide for adjuvant radiotherapy decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Jatoi
- Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Ian H Kunkler
- Edinburgh Cancer Research Center, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Rauch GM, Kuerer HM, Jochelson MS. To Look or Not to Look? Yes to Nodal Ultrasound! JOURNAL OF BREAST IMAGING 2021; 3:659-665. [PMID: 38424935 DOI: 10.1093/jbi/wbab079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Knowledge of axillary nodal status is highly important for correct staging and treatment planning in patients with breast cancer. Axillary US is a recognized highly specific and cost-effective tool for assessing nodal status and guiding appropriate treatment. Axillary US imaging with US-guided biopsy is routinely performed throughout the world. However, because of recent developments in the surgical management of the axilla in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer (American College of Surgeons Oncology Group [ACOSOG] Z0011 trial) and in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy (ACOSOG Z1071, SENTinel NeoAdjuvant [SENTINA] and Sentinel Node biopsy aFter NeoAdjuvant Chemotherapy [SN FNAC] trials), some have questioned the utility of axillary US for nodal staging. Here, we review the evidence to date supporting the additional value of axillary US for patients with breast cancer. Nodal US in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer is useful for staging; in a significant proportion of patients, nodal US identifies additional axillary level II or level III nodal disease, which allows for appropriate treatment of disease. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials may show that axillary surgery can be omitted in patients with negative findings on axillary US. In patients with lymph node-positive disease undergoing neoadjuvant systemic therapy, nodal US can guide the approach to axillary surgery. A more personalized patient approach, taking into the account tumor biology, among other factors, may help to mitigate the controversy surrounding the role of axillary US in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaiane M Rauch
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Departments of Abdominal and Breast Imaging, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Henry M Kuerer
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maxine S Jochelson
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, New York City, NY, USA
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Underestimation of invasive breast carcinoma in patients with initial diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ: Size matters. Cir Esp 2021; 99:655-659. [PMID: 34749924 DOI: 10.1016/j.cireng.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of our study was to identify those patients with preoperative diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and high risk of upstaging to invasive breast carcinoma (IBC), in whom sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) should be considered. MATERIALS AND METHODS One-hundred and five DCIS patients treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy were studied. Preoperative features of the tumours were analyzed to investigate its association with underestimation of IBC on final pathology. RESULTS Overall, the underestimation rate of IBC was 16.2%. The underestimation rate was highest in lesions with initial size >2 cm compared with those with size ≤2 cm (26.8% vs. 4.1%, respectively; p < 0.003). Eighty-eight patients (83.8%) underwent concurrent SLNB and only one case had lymph node involvement (1.1%). CONCLUSIONS SLNB should be considered in DCIS patients receiving BCS with lesions greater than 2 cm since approximately one in four will harbour an IBC.
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50
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Moorman AM, Rutgers EJT, Kouwenhoven EA. Omitting SLNB in Breast Cancer: Is a Nomogram the Answer? Ann Surg Oncol 2021; 29:2210-2218. [PMID: 34739639 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-11007-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard care as a staging procedure in patients with invasive breast cancer. The axillary recurrence rate, even after positive SLNB, is low. This raises serious doubts regarding the clinical value of SLNB in early breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to select patients with low suspected axillary burden in whom SLNB might be omitted. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 2015 primary breast cancer patients between 2007 and 2015, with 982 patients allocated to the training and 961 to the validation cohort. Variables associated with nodal disease were analyzed and used to build a nomogram for predicting nodal disease. RESULTS A total of 32.8% of patients had macrometastatic disease. A predictive model was constructed based on age, cN0, morphology, grade, multifocality, and tumor size with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.83. Considering a false-negative rate of 5%, 32.8% of patients could be spared axillary surgery. In a subanalysis of patients with relatively favorable characteristics, 26.8% had less than 5% chance of macrometastases. CONCLUSIONS We present a model with excellent predictive value that can select one-third of patients in whom SLNB is deemed not necessary because of less than 5% chance of nodal involvement. Whether missing 1 in 20 patients with macrometastatic disease is worthwhile balanced against preventing side-effects of the SLN procedure remains to be established. A number of ongoing large prospective trials evaluating the outcome of omitting SLNB are awaited. Meanwhile, this nomogram may be used for individual decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Moorman
- Department of Surgery, Hospital Group Twente, Almelo, The Netherlands.
| | - E J Th Rutgers
- Department of Surgery, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek/The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E A Kouwenhoven
- Department of Surgery, Hospital Group Twente, Almelo, The Netherlands
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