Risk of Regional Recurrence After Negative Repeat Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients with Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: ASCO Guideline Update

PURPOSE

To update the ASCO evidence-based recommendations on the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with initial surgery.

METHODS

ASCO convened an Expert Panel to develop updated recommendations based on a systematic literature review (January 2016-May 2024).

RESULTS

Eleven randomized clinical trials (14 publications), eight meta-analyses and/or systematic reviews, and one prospective cohort study met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Expert Panel members used available evidence and informal consensus to develop practice recommendations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Clinicians should not recommend routine SLNB in select patients who are postmenopausal and ≥50 years of age and with negative findings on preoperative axillary ultrasound for grade 1-2, small (≤2 cm), hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer and who undergo breast-conserving therapy. Clinicians may offer postmastectomy radiation (RT) with regional nodal irradiation (RNI) and omit axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer ≤5 cm who receive mastectomy and have one to two positive sentinel nodes. Clinicians may offer SLNB in patients who have cT3-T4c or multicentric tumors (clinically node-negative) or ductal carcinoma in situ treated with mastectomy, and in patients who are obese, male, or pregnant, or who have had prior breast or axillary surgery. Clinicians should not recommend ALND for patients with early-stage breast cancer who do not have nodal metastases, and clinicians should not recommend ALND for patients with early-stage breast cancer who have one or two sentinel lymph node metastases and will receive breast-conserving surgery and whole-breast RT with or without RNI.Additional information is available at www.asco.org/breast-cancer-guidelines.This guideline has been endorsed by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting synchronous regional and distant metastatic disease in patients with an in-breast tumour recurrence

BACKGROUND

In line with the trend towards minimally invasive, patient-tailored treatment, a selected group of patients with an in-breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) is treated by repeat breast-conserving treatment (BCT). To select eligible patients for repeat BCT, a reliable pre-operative work-up is essential. This study reports on the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting synchronous regional and distant metastases in patients with IBTR.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A nation-wide data query was sent out to all Dutch hospitals offering breast cancer treatment. Breast cancer surgeons from 34 hospitals participated, filling electronic case report forms (eCRFs) on 549 patients treated for IBTR from 2016 to 2017.

RESULTS

Of the 549 included patients, 297 were screened using 18F-FDG PET/CT for the presence of distant metastases. Forty of them (13.5 %) presented with synchronous distant metastatic disease. In 168 clinically node-negative patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT, a suspect regional lymph node was found in 18 (10.7 %). Final pathology of these lymph nodes yielded a positive lymph node in 12 patients (7.1 %). Positive predictive value (PPV) of 18F-FDG PET/CT in clinically node-negative patients was 66.7 % and negative predictive value (NPV) was 85.3 %.

CONCLUSION

The clinically relevant percentage of synchronous distant metastatic disease justifies the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the workup of patients with an IBTR. Furthermore, 18F-FDG PET/CT can assist in detecting regional axillary lymph node metastases, but requires histopathological confirmation given the moderate PPV, before clinical decisions can be made.

Evaluating the feasibility of repeat sentinel lymph node biopsy in ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence: Technical considerations and oncologic outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) remains a concern despite standard treatments. Advances in early detection have shifted surgical paradigms towards less invasive approaches. While repeat sentinel lymph node biopsy (rSLNB) emerges as a viable option according to the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, its efficacy remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess lymphatic drainage patterns in IBTR and evaluate the feasibility of rSLNB, along with analyzing oncologic outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis involving 78 patients with IBTR who had prior breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and adjuvant whole breast irradiation (WBI) at Samsung Medical Center was conducted. Data on patient characteristics, lymphatic mapping techniques, and oncologic outcomes were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 78 patients with IBTR, 82.1 % underwent successful rSLNB, predominantly detecting lymphatic drainage to the ipsilateral axilla (80.8 %). The initial tumor location correlated significantly with failed lymphatic mapping (p = 0.019). A third event occurred in 28.8 % of invasive IBTR cases, notably associated with postmenopausal status, higher T stages, and HR(-)/HER2(-) subtype (p < 0.001). The risk of a third event increased by over 50 % within a 2-year interval post-IBTR.

CONCLUSION

rSLNB in patients with IBTR, particularly for tumors initially located outside the upper-outer quadrant, demonstrated technical feasibility. The combined use of blue dye with lymphoscintigraphy may enhance rSLNB success rates. Active surveillance, especially for triple negative IBTR cases, may be important due to their aggressive nature and rapid progression potential within a short interval post-IBTR.

Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes of Omitting Axillary Surgery in Breast Cancer Patients with Chest Wall Recurrence after Mastectomy

BACKGROUND

The management of the axilla in breast cancer patients with isolated chest wall recurrence (CWR) after mastectomy remains controversial. Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for restaging is feasible, its role is unclear. We aimed to determine if the omission of axillary restaging surgery in female patients with operable presumably isolated CWRs could result in an increased risk of second recurrences.

METHODS

In this retrospective multicentre study, patients who developed CWRs were reviewed. We excluded patients with suspected or concomitant regional/distant metastases, bilateral cancers and patients without CWR surgery. Patients' demographics, pathological data and subsequent recurrences were collected from a prospective database and were compared between patients with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and/or SLNB versus no axillary operation at CWR.

FINDINGS

A total of 194 patients with CWRs were eligible. The median age at CWR was 56.0 (IQR 47.0-67.0) years old. At recurrence, 8 (4.1%), 5 (2.6%) and 181 (93.3%) patients had ALND, SLNB and no axillary operation, respectively. Patients with no axillary surgery during CWR were associated with, at primary cancer, a lower incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ as diagnosis (p = 0.007) and older age (p = 0.022). Subsequent ipsilateral axillary (p = 0.768) and second recurrences (p = 0.061) were not statistically different between patients with and without axillary surgery at CWR on median follow-up of 59.5 (IQR 27.3-105) months.

INTERPRETATION

In patients without evidence of concomitant regional or distant metastasis at CWR diagnosis, omission of axillary restaging surgery was not associated with an increased ipsilateral axillary or second recurrences on long-term follow-up.

Axillary Surgery for Breast Cancer in 2024

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.

Lymphoscintigraphy and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)/CT to Determine Need for Second Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer Recurrence Following Ipsilateral Breast/Axillary Surgery

BACKGROUND For patients with cN0 breast cancer, sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is performed to confirm metastasis. When cancer recurs after a breast/axillary surgery, performing a second SNB is debatable in terms of its accuracy and significance. However, SNB is often performed because it is less invasive and can provide significant information. This report describes our experience of performing lymphoscintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT to determine whether SNB is informative or not in patients who develop ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) following a breast/axillary surgery. CASE REPORT We included 9 patients with breast cancer and a history of ipsilateral breast/axillary surgery who underwent lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT between April 2020 and July 2023. For lymphoscintigraphy, 20-25 MBq of 99mTc-phytate was injected subcutaneously in the areola, and planar images and SPECT/CT were taken at 15 min and 3 h after the injection. In lymphoscintigraphy, radioisotope accumulation was detected in 2 patients at 15 min and 8 patients at 3 h; it was not detected in 1 patient. The accumulation site was only the axilla in 3 patients; other sites including the axilla in 3, and sites outside the axilla in 2. CONCLUSIONS When a patient who previously underwent breast/axillary surgery develops IBTR, the initial surgery may have altered the lymphatic flow. The lymphatic flow varied between the contralateral or ipsilateral internal mammary lymph nodes, contralateral axilla, multidirectional flow, and the axilla alone. Lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT may be useful for early determination of the need for another SNB.

Omission of axillary surgery for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence with negative nodes after previous breast-conserving surgery: is it oncologically safe?

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.

Regional Nodal Management in the Setting of Up-Front Surgery

Historically, axillary lymph node dissection was considered necessary for regional control of breast cancer. Moreover, nodal status was the major determinant of the need for chemotherapy. The increased use of systemic therapy coupled with expanding indications for nodal irradiation has led to interest in optimizing patient outcomes by leveraging the local control benefits of radiotherapy and systemic therapy to decrease the extent of surgery. A series of landmark surgical and radiotherapeutic trials has demonstrated low rates of disease recurrence with concomitant improvements in treatment-associated lymphedema and quality of life with the use of sentinel node biopsy and nodal irradiation as opposed to complete axillary dissection in the management of node positive breast cancer. This chapter will explore the evolution of regional nodal management, culminating in current approaches to tailored patient selection for axillary lymph node dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and adjuvant regional nodal irradiation.

Prognostic value and management of regional lymph nodes in locoregional breast cancer recurrence: a systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

Management of regional lymph nodes in breast cancer recurrence has been heterogeneous. To facilitate clinical practice, this review aims to give an overview on the prognosis, staging and operative management of (inapparent) regional lymph nodes.

METHODS

Current national and international guidelines are reviewed and a structured search of the literature between Jan 1, 1999 and Feb 1, 2021 on the repeat sentinel node biopsy (re-SNB) procedure was performed.

RESULTS

Positive regional lymph nodes in recurrent breast cancer indicate a poorer outcome with axillary recurrences being the most favorable tumor site among all nodal regions. Most preferred staging method is ultrasound ± guided biopsy. PET-CT, scintimammography, SPECT-CT may improve visualization of affected lymph nodes outside the axilla. Concerning operative management 30 articles on re-SNB were identified with a mean harvesting rate of 66.4%, aberrant drainage and aberrant metastasis in 1/3 of the cases. Total rate of metastasis is 17.9%. After previous axillary dissection (ALND) the re-SNB has a significantly lower harvesting rate and higher aberrant drainage and aberrant metastasis rate. The prognostic outcome after re-SNB has been favorable.

CONCLUSION

Nodal status in recurrent disease has prognostic value. The choice of operative management of clinically inapparent regional lymph nodes during local recurrence should be based on the previous nodal staging method. Patients with previous ALND should be spared a second systematic ALND. Re-SNB or no axillary surgery at all are possible alternatives. Lymphoscintigraphy may be performed to identify extraaxillary drainage. However, for definite recommendations randomized controlled studies are heavily needed.

How to Perform Repeat Sentinel Node Biopsy Safely After a Previous Mastectomy: Technical Features and Oncologic Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The latest National Comprehensive Cancer Network Breast Cancer Guidelines still discourage repeat sentinel node biopsy (SNB) after mastectomy, and the largest multicentric study available reports only 35 cases in the absence of previous axillary dissection (AD).

METHODS

From January 2003 to November 2018, 89 patients of the European Institute of Oncology with local recurrence of breast cancer after mastectomy, free of distant metastases, with a clinically negative axilla and a negative axillary ultrasound, in absence of AD, underwent lymphatic mapping before wide local excision.

RESULTS

During surgery, SNB was successful for 99% of the patients, with 14% being metastatic. Additional metastatic nodes removed by AD after a positive sentinel node occurred in 82% of cases. After a medium follow-up period of 3.7 years, the overall survival rate was 96.7%, and the disease-free survival rate was 84.4%. No axillary relapse after AD was recorded. One patient who refused human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted treatment experienced ipsilateral axillary recurrence after a negative repeat SNB. The first axillary level was never directly irradiated because all the patients with positive repeat SNB underwent AD. For invasive luminal-like HER2-negative recurrences, the metastatic sentinel node was significantly associated with the choice to prescribe adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

In specialized centers, repeat axillary SNB for patients with local recurrence after mastectomy in the absence of previous AD can represent a safe option for detection and removal of occult axillary disease that would otherwise not be excised/irradiated to achieve better local control and could possibly influence the choice of adjuvant treatments.

Repeat breast-conserving treatment of ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence: a nationwide survey amongst breast surgeons and radiation oncologists in the Netherlands

Background

In line with the paradigm to minimize surgical morbidity in patients with primary breast cancer, there is increasing evidence for the safety of a repeat breast-conserving treatment (BCT) of an ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) in selected patients. The conditions for the feasibility of a repeat BCT vary widely in literature. In clinical practice, many physicians have ongoing concerns about the oncological safety and possible toxicity of repeat BCT.

Aim

To investigate the attitude of Dutch breast surgeons and radiation oncologists towards repeat BCT and to report on their experiences with, objections against and perceived requirements to consider a repeat BCT in case of IBTR.

Patients and methods

An online survey consisting of a maximum of 26 open and multiple-choice questions about repeat BCT for IBTR was distributed amongst Dutch breast surgeons and radiation oncologists.

Results

Forty-nine surgeons representing 49% of Dutch hospitals and 20 radiation oncologists representing 70% of Dutch radiation oncology centres responded. A repeat BCT was considered feasible in selected cases by 28.7% of breast surgeons and 55% of radiation oncologists. The most important factors to consider a repeat BCT for both groups were the patient’s preference to preserve the breast and surgical feasibility of a second lumpectomy. Arguments against a repeat BCT were based on the perceived unacceptable toxicity and cosmesis of a second course of radiotherapy. The technique of preference for re-irradiation would be partial breast irradiation (PBI) according to all radiation oncologists. Differentiating between new primary tumours (NPT) and true recurrences (TR) was reported to be done by 57.1% of breast surgeons and 60% of radiation oncologists. The most important reason to differentiate between NPT and TR was to establish prognosis and to consider whether a repeat BCT would be feasible.

Conclusion

An increasing number of Dutch breast cancer specialists is considering a repeat BCT feasible in selected cases, at the patient’s preference and with partial breast re-irradiation.

Repeat Sentinel Lymph Node Surgery in Recurrent Breast Cancer: Peritumoral vs. Periareolar Injections

BACKGROUND

In the setting of recurrent cancer, there is no standard methodology regarding the technical aspects of repeat sentinel lymph node (rSLN) surgery. We analyzed our institutional experience with attempted rSLN surgery to determine the optimal injection technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Single site, retrospective review of patients with prior lumpectomy for breast cancer who presented with recurrent or new ipsilateral breast cancer and underwent attempt at rSLN surgery from 2008 to 2017. Patients with prior mastectomy or no prior ipsilateral axillary operation were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 141 patients were included; 103 (73%) underwent successful rSLN biopsy procedure. Lymphoscintigraphy showed aberrant drainage in 32 (26%). Periareolar (PA) injection resulted in failed mapping in 23/99 (23%) and aberrant drainage in 25/85 (29%). By comparison, peritumoral (PT) injection had a 14/38 (37%) incidence of failed mapping and 7/37 (19%) aberrant drainage (P = .11 and .23, respectively). Of the patients with successful sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy procedure via PA injection, 11/76 (14%) were positive for metastatic disease as compared with 2/24 (8%) in PT injection. Sixteen patients had lymph node metastases; 13 (81%) were SLNs, including 3 positive aberrant SLNs. Five-year regional recurrence rates were 11.4% (95% confidence interval, 0%-21.5%) and 0% for PA and PT injection techniques, respectively.

CONCLUSION

PA and PT injections had a similar incidence of SLN identification and aberrant drainage. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is beneficial in patients with recurrent breast cancer given the higher incidence of aberrant drainage in this population. Patients who underwent PA injections had a higher incidence of regional recurrences but this difference was not statistically significant.

Prognostic impact of repeat sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence

BACKGROUND

Ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) has an unfavourable prognosis, with a significant subsequent risk of distant recurrence. Repeat sentinel lymph node biopsy (rSLNB) has recently been demonstrated to be technically feasible and useful in tailoring adjuvant treatment plans in patients with IBTR. The prognostic impact of rSLNB in patients with IBTR remains unclear. This study analysed the risk of distant recurrence after IBTR, and evaluated the prognostic impact of rSLNB and other patient and tumour characteristics on distant recurrence-free survival.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the SNARB (Sentinel Node and Recurrent Breast Cancer) study. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to assess the prognostic effect of tumour, patient and treatment factors on distant recurrence-free survival.

RESULTS

Of the 515 included patients, 230 (44·7 per cent) had a tumour-negative rSLNB and 46 (8·9 per cent) a tumour-positive rSLNB. In 239 patients (46·4 per cent) the rSLNB procedure was unsuccessful. After a median follow-up of 5·1 years, 115 patients (22·3 per cent) had developed a recurrence. The overall 5-year distant recurrence-free survival rate was 84·2 (95 per cent c.i. 80·7 to 87·7) per cent. An interval of less than 2 years between primary breast cancer treatment and ipsilateral recurrence (P = 0·018), triple-negative IBTR (P = 0·045) and absence of adjuvant chemotherapy after IBTR (P = 0·010) were independently associated with poor distant recurrence-free survival. The association between the outcome of rSLNB and distant recurrence-free survival was not statistically significant (P = 0·682).

CONCLUSION

The outcome of rSLNB is not an important prognostic factor for distant recurrence, and its value as a staging tool in patients with IBTR seems disputable.

Screening for distant metastases in patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence: the impact of different imaging modalities on distant recurrence-free interval

Purpose

In patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), the detection of distant disease determines whether the intention of the treatment is curative or palliative. Therefore, adequate preoperative staging is imperative for optimal treatment planning. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of conventional imaging techniques, including chest X-ray and/or CT thorax-(abdomen), liver ultrasonography(US), and skeletal scintigraphy, on the distant recurrence-free interval (DRFI) in patients with IBTR, and to compare conventional imaging with ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT or no imaging at all.

Methods

This study was exclusively based on the information available at time of diagnoses of IBTR. To adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between the three imaging groups, a propensity score (PS) weighted method was used.

Results

Of the 495 patients included in the study, 229 (46.3%) were staged with conventional imaging, 89 patients (19.8%) were staged with ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT, and in 168 of the patients (33.9%) no imaging was used (N = 168). After a follow-up of approximately 5 years, 14.5% of all patients developed a distant recurrence as first event after IBTR. After adjusting for the PS weights, the Cox regression analyses showed that the different staging methods had no significant impact on the DRFI.

Conclusions

This study showed a wide variation in the use of imaging modalities for staging IBTR patients in the Netherlands. After using PS weighting, no statistically significant impact of the different imaging modalities on DRFI was shown. Based on these results, it is not possible to recommend staging for distant metastases using ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT over conventional imaging techniques.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10549-019-05205-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Low Risk of Development of a Regional Recurrence After an Unsuccessful Repeat Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients with Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence

BACKGROUND

Unlike sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the primary setting, the repeat SLNB (rSLNB) in patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) is challenging, because it is difficult to visualize and/or harvest a sentinel lymph node in every patient. Regional treatments options and safety in terms of regional disease control after such an unsuccessful rSLNB remain unclear. This study assesses factors associated with the performance of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after unsuccessful rSLNB and evaluates the occurrence of regional recurrences.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Sentinel Node and Recurrent Breast Cancer (SNARB) study. In 239 patients, the rSLNB was unsuccessful, of whom 60 patients underwent ipsilateral ALND.

RESULTS

A shorter time interval between primary treatment and IBTR, and a primary negative SLNB were significantly associated with a higher probability to be treated with ALND after unsuccessful rSLNB (P < 0.001). The 5-year regional-recurrence rate was 0.0% in the ALND group compared with 3.7% in the group treated without ALND (P = 0.113). Of the 179 patients treated without ALND, after a median follow-up of 5.1 years (range 0.3-13.2), 7 (3.9%) developed a regional recurrence as first event after unsuccessful rSLNB. None of the seven recurrences occurred in the ipsilateral axilla. Univariable analysis showed no factors associated with regional recurrence as first event after unsuccessful rSLNB (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that the risk of regional recurrence in patients with an IBTR and an unsuccessful rSLNB is negligible, irrespective of the use of ALND. This suggests that there is no need for additional treatment of the axilla after an unsuccessful rSLNB.

SEOM clinical guidelines in advanced and recurrent breast cancer (2018)

Although the metastasic breast cancer is still an incurable disease, recent advances have increased significantly the time to progression and the overall survival. However, too much information has been produced in the last 2 years, so a well-based guideline is a valuable document in treatment decision making. The SEOM guidelines are intended to make evidence-based recommendations on how to manage patients with advanced and recurrent breast cancer to achieve the best patient outcomes based on a rational use of the currently available therapies. To assign a level of certainty and a grade of recommendation the United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines methodology was selected as reference.

The rationale for and long-term outcome of incomplete axillary staging in elderly women with primary breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The proportion of elderly women diagnosed with breast cancer is rising. Standard treatment, including axillary staging, is often not given to these patients. This study aimed to investigate reasons to omit any surgical axillary staging or to refrain from completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) after positive-sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB); so-called "incomplete staging". Furthermore, the impact of incomplete staging on regional control and survival in patients aged 75 or older was evaluated.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted including all primary breast cancer patients aged 75 or older, diagnosed between 2001 and 2008, and documented by the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR). Patients with incomplete staging were compared to patients with complete axillary staging. Survival analyses were used to determine the risk of local, regional and distant recurrence and overall survival.

RESULTS

In total, 1467 of 2116 (69%) patients were considered eligible, of whom 258 (17.2%) had incomplete axillary staging. For 93 patients, diagnosed in 6 of the 10 hospitals in the NCR-area, examination of clinical records revealed that age, comorbidities and patient preferences were the main reason for omitting complete axillary staging. The 10-year axillary recurrence rate in these 93 patients was 5.2% (95% CI, 0.03-10.1). Of the 77 patients who had died, 64 (83%) died of non-breast-cancer-related causes. No significant difference in overall survival was observed between patients with or without complete axillary staging.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the omission of complete axillary staging is common in selected elderly breast cancer patients with ≥2 comorbidities, with no apparent impact on regional control and 10-year overall survival.

Management of In-Breast Tumor Recurrence

The management of isolated in-breast tumor recurrence is complex, requiring careful consideration of prior local therapies to plan future multimodality treatment. Options for surgical management have evolved from standard salvage mastectomy with axillary clearance and now include repeat breast conservation with axillary staging in select patients. Reattempting sentinel lymph node biopsy may avoid the morbidity of extensive axillary surgery and has been shown to be feasible in clinically node-negative patients with oncologically safe outcomes. In the adjuvant setting, partial breast irradiation has emerged as a valuable means to improve local control rates with limited associated toxicity and acceptable overall cosmesis. Furthermore, results from prospective trials are now available to support the use of chemotherapy in hormone-receptor negative subgroups, which is associated with improvements in long-term, disease-free, and overall survival.