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Wang G, Zhang S, Wang M, Liu L, Liu Y, Tang L, Bai H, Zhao H. Prognostic significance of occult lymph node metastases in breast cancer: a meta-analysis. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:875. [PMID: 34330233 PMCID: PMC8325175 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08582-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Occult metastases in axillary lymph nodes have been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. However, studies on the prognostic value of occult metastases have shown controversial results. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of occult lymph node metastases in breast cancer. Methods Studies published until May, 2020, which retrospectively examined negative lymph nodes by stepsectioning and/or immunohistochemistry, were retrieved from MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, and Cochrane Library databases. The pooled Relative Risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated to examine the associations between occult metastases and prognosis. Results Patients with occult metastases in axillary lymph nodes had poorer five-year DFS (RR = 0.930; 95% CI = 0.907–0.954) and OS (RR = 0.972; 95% CI = 0.954–0.990). Furthermore, the DFS (RR = 0.887; 95% CI = 0.810–0.972) and OS (RR = 0.896; 95% CI = 0.856–0.939) of patients with occult metastases were significantly lower after a ten-year follow-up. Conclusions Occult metastases in the axillary lymph nodes are associated with poorer DFS andOS of patients with breast cancer. Occult metastases might serve as a predictive factor of survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixin Wang
- General Surgery Department, Dalian University Affiliated Xinhua Hospital, Dalian, 116000, China.,Breast Surgery Department, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Shuhao Zhang
- Cardiology Department, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066000, China
| | - Meiling Wang
- Breast Surgery Department, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Lin Liu
- General Surgery Department, Dalian University Affiliated Xinhua Hospital, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Yaqian Liu
- Breast Surgery Department, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Lianjun Tang
- General Surgery Department, Dalian Jinzhou First People's Hospital, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - He Bai
- General Surgery Department, Dalian University Affiliated Xinhua Hospital, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Haidong Zhao
- Breast Surgery Department, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, China.
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Mantel HTJ, Wiggers JK, Verheij J, Doff JJ, Sieders E, van Gulik TM, Gouw ASH, Porte RJ. Lymph Node Micrometastases are Associated with Worse Survival in Patients with Otherwise Node-Negative Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2015; 22 Suppl 3:S1107-15. [PMID: 26178761 PMCID: PMC4686550 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-015-4723-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Lymph node metastases on routine histology are a strong negative predictor for survival after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Additional immunohistochemistry can detect lymph node micrometastases in patients who are otherwise node negative, but the prognostic value is unsure. The objective of this study was to assess the effect on survival of immunohistochemically detected lymph node micrometastases in patients with node-negative (pN0) hilar cholangiocarcinoma on routine histology. Methods Between 1990 and 2010, a total of 146 patients underwent curative-intent resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma with regional lymphadenectomy at two university medical centers in the Netherlands.
Ninety-one patients (62 %) without lymph node metastases at routine histology were included. Micrometastases were identified by multiple sectioning of all lymph nodes and additional immunostaining with an antibody against cytokeratin 19 (K19). The association with overall survival was assessed in univariable and multivariable analysis. Median follow-up was 48 months. Results Micrometastases were identified in 16 (5 %) of 324 lymph nodes, corresponding to 11 (12 %) of 91 patients. There were no differences in clinical variables between K19 lymph node-positive and -negative patients. Five-year survival rates in patients with lymph node micrometastases were significantly lower compared to patients without micrometastases (27 vs. 54 %, P = 0.01). Multivariable analysis confirmed micrometastases as an independent prognostic factor for survival (adjusted Hazard ratio 2.4, P = 0.02). Conclusions Lymph node micrometastases are associated with worse survival after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical detection of lymph node micrometastases leads to better staging of patients who were initially diagnosed with node-negative (pN0) hilar cholangiocarcinoma on routine histology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik T J Mantel
- Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Jim K Wiggers
- Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joanne Verheij
- Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan J Doff
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert Sieders
- Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas M van Gulik
- Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annette S H Gouw
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert J Porte
- Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Babar M, Madani R, Jackson P, Layer GT, Kissin MW, Irvine TE. One Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) positive micrometastases and additional histopathological NSLN metastases: Results from a single institution over 53 months. Surgeon 2014; 14:76-81. [PMID: 25444440 DOI: 10.1016/j.surge.2014.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2013] [Revised: 05/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The role of sentinel lymph node micrometastases on histopathological analysis is controversial in axillary staging and management in clinically node negative breast cancer. Long-term studies addressing the clinical relevance of occult breast cancer in sentinel lymph nodes based on molecular analysis are lacking. One Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA), a highly sensitive assay of cytokeratin 19 mRNA, is used intra-operatively for the detection of lymph node macro- and micrometastases in breast cancer. AIM The aim of this study is to review the rate of micrometastases and further histopathological NSLN metastases, in our unit following the introduction of OSNA in Guildford. METHODS Data was collected prospectively from the period of introduction 01/12/2008 to 31/05/2013. All patients eligible for sentinel lymph node biopsy were offered OSNA and operations were performed by the consultant breast surgeons. Presence or absence of micro-metastases depends on the agreed cut-off point on the amplification curve. On detection of micrometastases (+) and positive but inhibited (i+) metastases, a level 1 axillary clearance (ANC) was performed and for a macrometastasis (++), a level 3 ANC was carried out. RESULTS 66% of the patients had negative SLN (n = 672) and 34% (n = 336) had positive sentinel lymph nodes who had further axillary surgery. Of these, 45% (n = 152/336) had macrometastases, 40% (n = 136/336) had micrometastases and 15% (48/336) had positive but inhibited results. There was no difference in the patient demographics and tumour characteristics in the various positive SLN groups. In patients with micrometastases, 15% (20/136) had further positive NLSNs and a further 6% (8/136) had >4 overall positive nodes (SLN + NSLN) thus requiring adjuvant supraclavicular/chest wall radiotherapy (p < 0.05). 25% of node positive patients had further NLSN metastases (85/336) and in these patients, the ratio of positive SLN/harvested SLN (+SLN/SLN) is constant at 1:1. This shows the likelihood of further positive NSLNs if all the harvested lymph nodes are positive. This linear trend is present in both micro-and macrometastases, thus correlating with the size and number of NSLN metastases. CONCLUSION Our study reflects the tumour burden of NSLNs based on the molecular analysis of the SLN. OSNA has the potential to accurately identify axillary micrometastases. Micro-metastases are important as some of the patients with micrometastases had overall four positive nodes [SLN + NSLN] (criteria for radiotherapy in the absence of other adverse clinicopathological features). Also, our study highlights certain factors that predict the NSLN metastases, pending validation by further prospective long-term data. This will allow accurate calculation of the axillary tumour burden, particularly in patients with micro-metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Babar
- Department of Breast and Oncoplastic Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK.
| | - R Madani
- Department of Breast and Oncoplastic Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
| | - P Jackson
- Department of Histopathology Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
| | - G T Layer
- Department of Breast and Oncoplastic Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK; University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - M W Kissin
- Department of Breast and Oncoplastic Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
| | - T E Irvine
- Department of Breast and Oncoplastic Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
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Prognostic role of micrometastases in sentinel lymph node in patients with invasive breast cancer. Int J Surg 2014; 11 Suppl 1:S73-8. [PMID: 24380559 DOI: 10.1016/s1743-9191(13)60022-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Axillary lymph node status at the time of diagnosis remains one of the most important prognostic factors in women with breast cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) proved to be a reliable method for the evaluation of axillary nodal status in early-stage invasive breast cancer. The prognostic value and potential therapeutic consequences of SLN micrometastases remains a matter of great debate. PATIENTS AND METHODS From January 1998 to March 2011, 1,976 consecutive patients with non-metastatic invasive breast cancer underwent surgical treatment; 1,080 of them (54.6%) underwent SLNB. We collected data regarding demography, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, type of surgery, histopathologic and immunohistochemical features and adjuvant treatment. MAIN FINDINGS A mean number of 2.1 ± 1.4 (range 1-13) SLN per patient were collected, a total of 2,294 nodes. SLNs were macrometastatic in 16.7% of patients and micrometastatic in 3.3%. Among the patients with positive SLN 93.6% underwent complete ALND. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of 72 patients with micrometastases in SLN at 60 months was 100%, similar to patients with negative SLN (98.7%), quite different from the DFS of N1-N3 patients (85.8%). Statistically significant differences in OS and DFS were observed between patients with N1mi and the group with N1-N3 sentinel node (p < 0.001 and p = 0.04) and also between patients with negative SLN and those with macrometastatic SLN (p < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSION SLN micrometastases could represents an epiphenomenon of peritumoral lymphovascular invasion which impacts independently on the survival of patients with invasive breast cancer.
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Wu Y, Mittendorf EA, Kelten C, Tucker SL, Wei W, Middleton LP, Broglio K, Buchholz TA, Hunt KK, Sahin AA. Occult axillary lymph node metastases do not have prognostic significance in early stage breast cancer. Cancer 2012; 118:1507-14. [PMID: 22009292 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.26458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2011] [Revised: 06/22/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Axillary lymph node status is one of the most powerful prognostic indicators in patients with breast cancer and has implications for adjuvant treatment. It has been demonstrated that enhanced histologic evaluation of axillary lymph nodes, including serial sectioning of paraffin tissue blocks and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, increases the rate of detection of occult metastases. The clinical significance of occult lymph node metastases has been the subject of debate. METHODS In the current study, the authors identified 267 patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) between 1987 and 1995 and were lymph node negative according to a routine pathologic evaluation, which included the complete submission of all lymph nodes and an examination of 1 hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained section per paraffin block. Patients did not receive systemic chemotherapy or hormone therapy. All of the dissected lymph nodes from these patients were re-evaluated by intensified pathologic methods (serial sectioning with H&E levels plus IHC). Occult metastases were categorized by detection method and size. The clinical significance of the occult metastases was determined. RESULTS Thirty-nine patients (15%) who had lymph node-negative results on routine evaluation of their ALND specimens had occult metastases identified. Eight of these patients (20%) had macrometastases >2.0 mm, 15 (40%) had micrometastases (range, >0.2 mm to ≤2 mm), and 16 (40%) had isolated tumor cells (≤0.2 mm). The presence of occult metastases and the size of metastases did not affect recurrence-free or overall survival. CONCLUSIONS The presence of occult metastasis did not have clinical significance in this cohort of patients with early stage breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Lee SE, Jang JY, Kim MA, Kim SW. Clinical implications of immunohistochemically demonstrated lymph node micrometastasis in resectable pancreatic cancer. J Korean Med Sci 2011; 26:881-5. [PMID: 21738340 PMCID: PMC3124717 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.7.881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of nodal micrometastasis detected by immunohistochemistry in patients that had undergone curative surgery for pancreatic cancer. Between 2005 and 2006, a total of 208 lymph nodes from 48 consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer that had undergone curative resection were immunostained with monoclonal antibody against pan-ck and CK-19. Micrometastasis was defined as metastasis missed by a routine H&E examination but detected during an immunohistochemical evaluation. Relations between immunohistochemical results and clinical and pathologic features and patient survival were examined. Nodal micrometastases were detected in 5 (29.4%) patients of 17 pN0 patients. Nodal micrometastasis was found to be related to tumor relapse (P = 0.043). Twelve patients without overt nodal metastasis and micrometastasis had better prognosis than 5 patients with only nodal micrometastasis (median survival; 35.9 vs 8.6 months, P < 0.001). The Cox proportional hazard model identified nodal micrometastasis as significant prognostic factors. Although the number of patients with micrometastasis was so small and further study would be needed, our study suggests that the lymph node micrometastasis could be the predictor of worse survival and might indicate aggressive tumor biology among patients undergoing curative resection for pancreas cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Eun Lee
- Department of Surgery, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin-Young Jang
- Department of Surgery and Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min-A Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sun-Whe Kim
- Department of Surgery and Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Prognostic Impact of Regional Lymph Node Micrometastasis in Patients With Node-Negative Biliary Cancer. Ann Surg 2010; 252:99-106. [DOI: 10.1097/sla.0b013e3181e33c0a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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de Boer M, van Dijck JAAM, Bult P, Borm GF, Tjan-Heijnen VCG. Breast cancer prognosis and occult lymph node metastases, isolated tumor cells, and micrometastases. J Natl Cancer Inst 2010; 102:410-25. [PMID: 20190185 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djq008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic relevance of isolated tumor cells and micrometastases in lymph nodes from patients with breast cancer has become a major issue since the introduction of the sentinel lymph node procedure. We conducted a systematic review of this issue. METHODS Studies published from January 1, 1977, until August 11, 2008, were identified by use of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 58 studies (total number of patients = 297,533) were included and divided into three categories according to the method for pathological assessment of the lymph nodes: cohort studies with single-section pathological examination of axillary lymph nodes (n = 285,638 patients), occult metastases studies with retrospective examination of negative lymph nodes by step sectioning and/or immunohistochemistry (n = 7740 patients), and sentinel lymph node biopsy studies with intensified work-up of the sentinel but not of the nonsentinel lymph nodes (n = 4155 patients). We used random-effects meta-analyses to calculate pooled estimates of the relative risks (RRs) of 5- and 10-year disease recurrence and death and the multivariably corrected pooled hazard ratio (HR) of overall survival of the cohort studies. RESULTS In the cohort studies, the presence (vs the absence) of metastases of 2 mm or less in diameter in axillary lymph nodes was associated with poorer overall survival (pooled HR of death = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29 to 1.62). In the occult metastases studies, the presence (vs the absence) of occult metastases was associated with poorer 5-year disease-free survival (pooled RR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.32 to 1.82) and overall survival (pooled RR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.88), although these endpoints were not consistently assessed in multivariable analyses. Sentinel lymph node biopsy studies were limited by small patient groups and short follow-up. CONCLUSION The presence (vs the absence) of metastases of 2 mm or less in diameter in axillary lymph nodes detected on single-section examination was associated with poorer disease-free and overall survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- M de Boer
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Yonemori A, Kondo S, Matsuno Y, Ito T, Tanaka E, Hirano S. Prognostic impact of para-aortic lymph node micrometastasis in patients with regional node-positive biliary cancer. Br J Surg 2009; 96:509-16. [PMID: 19358177 DOI: 10.1002/bjs.6585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of para-aortic lymph node metastasis in biliary cancer has a negative impact on prognosis. The relevance of para-aortic lymph node micrometastasis is unknown. METHODS A total of 546 para-aortic lymph nodes from 49 patients with biliary cancer with positive regional nodes and negative para-aortic nodes were immunostained with epithelial marker CAM5.2 (specific for cytokeratins 7 and 8). Immunostained tumour foci were classified as micrometastases or isolated tumour cells (ITCs) according to their size (larger or smaller than 0.2 mm). RESULTS CAM5.2-positive occult carcinoma cells in para-aortic lymph nodes were detected in nine (18 per cent) of 49 patients and in 18 (3.3 per cent) of 546 para-aortic nodes. There was no difference in postoperative survival between patients with and without CAM5.2-positive para-aortic nodes (P = 0.978), but survival for five patients with micrometastases was significantly worse than that for four patients with only ITCs (P = 0.047). CONCLUSION In patients with regional node-positive and para-aortic node-negative biliary cancer, and occult cancer cells in para-aortic lymph nodes, prognosis was significantly worse in those with micrometastases than in patients with only ITCs. An efficient method of intraoperative detection of para-aortic lymph node micrometastases larger than 0.2 mm is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Yonemori
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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