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Comparative Analysis of Bone Marrow Micrometastases with Sentinel Lymph Node Status in Early-Stage Breast Cancer

  • Breast Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bone marrow micrometastases (BMM) and sentinel lymph node (SLN) status are both prognostic factors in breast cancer (BRCa) patients (pts). A definitive relationship between the two has not yet been proven and the data available is controversial. Thus, a retrospective study was conducted to determine the relationship of BM status and SLN status in pts with early BRCa (T1/T2). All female pts with early BRCa (T1/T2) operated upon by a single surgeon were included in the study. Prior to surgery, all pts underwent bone marrow aspiration from the posterior superior iliac spine bilaterally. Subsequently, pts underwent SLN biopsy and definitive primary breast surgery. BM samples were examined by using a Cytokeratin Detection Kit using CAM 5.2 monoclonal antibody. All pts with BMM underwent repeat BM analysis 6 months after completing all treatments. Data was collected for SLN, BM, estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2/neu) status and analyzed using chi-square (χ 2) analysis or Fischer’s exact test. A total of 270 consecutive pts with early BRCa were studied. SLN mapping was successful in all pts. SLN metastases (mets) were detected in 28.9% (78/270) pts. Of the 270 pts, 77.0% (208/270) had T1 disease. BMM were detected in 9.6% (26/270) pts, of whom 69.2% (18/26) were found to have BMM unilaterally. BMM were detected in 11.5% (9/78) pts with SLN mets versus 8.9% (17/192) in pts with node-negative disease (p = 0.65). Of the pts with T1 BRCa, BMM were observed in 9.1% (19/208) pts versus 11.3% (7/62) in pts with T2 BRCa (p = 0.6). In pts with ER/PR-negative (−ve) BRCa, BMM were found in 7.7% (2/26) pts versus 9.9% (24/242) in pts with ER/PR-positive (+ve) BRCa (p = 0.27). BMM were detected in 12.3% (9/73) pts with Her-2/neu +ve BRCa and in 8.6% (16/187) pts with Her-2/neu −ve BRCa (p = 0.11). After completion of adjuvant therapy all pts with BMM (n = 26) converted to BM negative status. We conclude that BM status did not correlate with SLN status and occurs independently of lymphatic metastasis possibly through a different mechanism. BMM occur in node-negative pts and may assist in identifying pts at high risk for disease recurrence. Obtaining bone marrow aspirate from two locations resulted in a significant increase in detection of micrometastases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgical Oncology, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint, MI, USA

    Sukamal Saha MD & Mehul Soni MD

  2. Surgical Oncology, Advanced General and Oncological Surgical Associates, Flint, MI, USA

    Sukamal Saha MD & Douglas Iddings DO

  3. Internal Medicine, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint, MI, USA

    Sarah Ali MD

  4. General Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Maher Ghanem MD

  5. Pathology, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint, MI, USA

    David Wiese MD

  6. Medical Oncology, Great Lakes Cancer Center, Flint, MI, USA

    Madan Arora MD & Trevor Singh MD

  7. Medical Oncology, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint, MI, USA

    Madan Arora MD & Trevor Singh MD

  8. 3500 Calkins Road; Suite A, Flint, MI, 48532, USA

    Douglas Iddings DO

  9. Medicine and Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Douglas Iddings DO

Authors
  1. Sukamal Saha MD
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  2. Sarah Ali MD
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  3. Maher Ghanem MD
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  4. Mehul Soni MD
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  5. David Wiese MD
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  6. Madan Arora MD
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  7. Trevor Singh MD
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  8. Douglas Iddings DO
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Correspondence to Douglas Iddings DO.

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Saha, S., Ali, S., Ghanem, M. et al. Comparative Analysis of Bone Marrow Micrometastases with Sentinel Lymph Node Status in Early-Stage Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 16, 276–280 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-0244-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-0244-0

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