Toward omitting sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer

This study aimed to identify characteristics that are associated with negative pathological node (ypN0) in patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) breast cancer treated with NACT. This cohort study included patients with cT1-3 cN0 breast cancer treated with NACT (2013 to 2018). Overall, 85.5% (259/303 patients) achieved ypN0, with high rates among those with a radiologically complete response (rCR) on breast MRI (95.5%). Some 82% of patients with HR+ breast cancer, 98% of patients with TNBC, and all patients with HER2+ breast cancer who had rCR achieved ypN0. Multivariate analysis showed that HER+ (OR 5.77; 95% CI 1.91 to 23.13) and TNBC subtype (OR 11.65; 95% CI 2.86 to 106.89) were associated with ypN0 status.

Classifications: Breast & Oncoplastic Surgery

Keywords: Axilla Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/ SLNB Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy/ NACT