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National trends for axillary lymph node dissection and survival outcomes for clinical T3/T4 node-negative breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy with positive lymph nodes

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Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Previous studies have suggested axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) can be omitted in early breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy with positive lymph nodes (LNs). We assessed the national utilization of ALND and overall survival (OS) for larger, locally advanced tumors in patients undergoing mastectomy with positive LNs.

Methods

The National Cancer Database from 2006 to 2016 was queried for mastectomy patients with clinical T3/T4, N0 tumors, and 1–2 positive LNs. Trends and outcomes for ALND were compared to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone.

Results

Thousand nine hundred and seventeen women were included. The proportion of ALND decreased from 70% pre-Z0011 to 52% post-Z0011. On Kaplan–Meier analysis, ALND had better OS compared to SLNB alone (p < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, age (p < 0.01), chemotherapy (p < 0.01), and hormonal therapy (p < 0.01) were associated with better OS. In patients who received adjuvant radiation therapy (ART) ALND improved OS on multivariate analysis (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

This is the first large database study to demonstrate a national trend to forego ALND in mastectomy patients with large or locally advanced tumors (T3/T4abc) and 1–2 positive lymph nodes. This study suggests a survival benefit for ALND, particularly in patients receiving ART. Careful consideration and further investigations should be performed prior to omitting ALND this patient population.

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Acknowledgements

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Funding

No grants or funding was used to create this study.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Chantal Reyna

    Present address: Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Crozer Health System, 2100 Keystone Ave, MOB 1st Floor, Drexel Hill, PA, USA

  2. Chantal Reyna and Michael E. Johnston shared co-first authorship.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Elizabeth A. Shaughnessy & Jaime D. Lewis

  2. Cincinnati Research On Outcomes and Safety in Surgery (CROSS), Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Michael E. Johnston, Mackenzie C. Morris & Tiffany C. Lee

  3. Division of Research-Biostatics, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Dennis Hanseman

  4. Section of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Suite 1466, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA

    Chantal Reyna

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Contributions

Study conception and design: MJ, CR. Acquisition of data: MJ, DH, CR. Analysis and interpretation of data: MJ, DH, CR. Drafting of manuscript: MJ, CR. Critical revision: MJ, TL, MM, DH, JL, ES, CR. Each author has made final approval of the manuscript. Furthermore, each author certifies that this material has not been and will not be published or submitted to any other publication before its appearance in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

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Correspondence to Chantal Reyna.

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We queried a large national database for mastectomy patients with clinical T3 or T4, N0 tumors, and 1–2 positive lymph nodes on final pathology. There is decreasing utilization of ALND; however, in this patient population, ALND may still provide a survival benefit.

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Reyna, C., Johnston, M.E., Morris, M.C. et al. National trends for axillary lymph node dissection and survival outcomes for clinical T3/T4 node-negative breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy with positive lymph nodes. Breast Cancer Res Treat 189, 155–166 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-021-06290-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-021-06290-9

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