Micrometástasis en el ganglio centinela axilar por cáncer de mama. ¿Es necesaria la linfadenectomía axilar completa?

Abstract

To date, many reports have suggested that selective Sentinel Node (SN) biopsy only could be used to manage early breast cancer. However, definitive prove is lacking. AIM: To prove that in early breast cancer patients with a SN biopsy showing micrometastases, refraining from completion axillary lymph-node dissection (ALND) is enough to produce the same prognostic information and disease control as proceeding with completion ALND. METHODS: A randomized prospective clinical trial was devised with two arms. In one arm, patients with SN micrometastases were subject to clinical follow-up (experimental arm). In the other arm, patients were submitted for completion ALND (control arm). All patients were evaluated for recurrence and survival. RESULTS: A total of 247 patients were entered (14 withdrawals): 112 patients in the control arm and 121 in the experimental arm. In the control arm, 15 (13%) completion ALND turned out positive (low burden). Mean time follow-up was 62 months. Four patients recurred: 1/108 (1%) in the control arm and 3/119 (2.5%) in the experimental arm. No differences in disease-free survival were found (p=0.325). No cancer related deaths were seen. Morbidity was more common in the control arm. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly suggest that in early breast cancer patients with micrometastasis, selective SN biopsy is enough to provide for loco-regional and distant disease control, without significant deleterious effects on survival.

Date of Award	3 May 2013
Original language	Spanish
Supervisor	Jaume Fernandez-llamazares Rodriguez (Director), Manuel Fraile Lopez Amor (Director) & Juan Francisco Julian Ibañez (Director)