Lymphovascular invasion is a significant risk factor for non-sentinel nodal metastasis in breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive breast cancer: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

A connection between lymphovascular invasion and axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer has been observed, but the findings are inconsistent and primarily based on research in Western populations. We investigated the association between lymphovascular invasion and non-sentinel lymph node (non-SLN) metastasis in breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis in western China.

METHODS

This study comprised 280 breast cancer patients who tested positive for SLN through biopsy and subsequently underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) at The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region between March 2013 and July 2022. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the association between clinicopathological characteristics and non-SLN metastasis. Additionally, we conducted further stratified analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 280 patients with positive SLN, only 126 (45%) exhibited non-SLN metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that lymphovascular invasion was an independent risk factor for non-SLN in breast cancer patients with SLN metastasis (OR = 6.11; 95% CI, 3.62-10.32, p < 0.05). The stratified analysis yielded similar results.

CONCLUSIONS

In individuals with invasive breast cancer and 1-2 positive sentinel lymph nodes, lymphovascular invasion is the sole risk factor for non-SLN metastases. This finding aids surgeons and oncologists in devising a plan for local axillary treatment, preventing both over- and undertreatment.

Effect of preoperative peripheral blood platelet volume index on prognosis in patients with invasive breast cancer

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the prognostic value of the platelet volume index in patients with invasive breast cancer (IBC). Methods: A total of 524 patients with IBC were enrolled in this study, with a median follow-up time of 6.76 years. The relationship between platelet volume indices and breast cancer prognosis was analyzed. Results: There is a strong correlation between a higher platelet distribution width-to-platelet count ratio (PDW/P) and poorer disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with IBC. The DFS rate was significantly lower among individuals with elevated PDW/P ratios compared with those with lower ratios. Conclusion: The PDW/P ratio is an independent risk factor for predicting DFS in patients with IBC.