Prospective Evaluation of Radar-Localized Reflector-Directed Targeted Axillary Dissection in Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients after Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy

Retrieval of the Clipped Axillary Lymph Node and Its Impact on Treatment Decisions

We examined clinically node-positive (cN+) breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and clipped lymph node (CLN) localization to determine the rate of CLN = non-sentinel lymph node (SLN), the factors associated with cN+ to pN0 conversion, and the treatment impact. We conducted a single institution review of cN+ patients receiving NAC from 2016 to 2022 with preoperative CLN localization (N = 81). Demographics, hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status, time to surgery, staging, chemotherapy regimen, localization method, pathology, and adjuvant therapy were analyzed. Pathologic complete response (pCR) of the CLN was observed in 41 patients (50.6%): 18.8% HR+/HER2-, 75% HR+/HER2+, 75% HR-/HER2+, and 62.5% triple-negative breast cancer (p-value = 0.006). CLN = SLN in 68 (84%) patients, while CLN = non-SLN in 13 (16%). In 14 (17.3%) patients, the final treatment was altered based on +CLN status: 11 patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), and 3 had systemic treatment changes. pCR rates varied, with the highest conversion rates observed in HER2+ disease and the lowest in HR+/HER2- disease. In 2 (2.5%) patients, adjuvant therapy changes were made based on a non-sentinel CLN, while in 97.5% of patients, a SLN biopsy alone represented the status of the axilla. This demonstrates that a +CLN often alters final plans and that, despite also being a SLN in most cases, a subset of patients will be undertreated by SLN biopsy alone.

Wire-Free Targeted Axillary Dissection: A Pooled Analysis of 1300+ Cases Post-Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Node-Positive Early Breast Cancer

Recent advances in neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) have significantly improved pathologic complete response rates in early breast cancer, challenging the role of axillary lymph node dissection in nose-positive patients. Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) integrates marked lymph node biopsy (MLNB) and tracer-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The introduction of new wire-free localisation markers (LMs) has streamlined TAD and increased its adoption. The primary endpoints include the successful localisation and retrieval rates of LMs. The secondary endpoints include the pathological complete response (pCR), SLNB, and MLNB concordance, as well as false-negative rates. Seventeen studies encompassing 1358 TAD procedures in 1355 met the inclusion criteria. The localisation and retrieval rate of LMs were 97% and 99%. A concordance rate of 67% (95% CI: 64-70) between SLNB and MLNB was demonstrated. Notably, 49 days (range: 0-272) was the average LM deployment time to surgery. pCR was observed in 46% (95% CI: 43-49) of cases, with no significant procedure-related complications. Omitting MLNB or SLNB would have under-staged the axilla in 15.2% or 5.4% (p = 0.0001) of cases, respectively. MLNB inclusion in axillary staging post-NST for initially node-positive patients is crucial. The radiation-free Savi Scout, with its minimal MRI artefacts, is the preferred technology for TAD.

Feasibility and accuracy of targeted axillary dissection in breast cancer patients; single center experience

Introduction

Axillary complete response (pCR) was observed in approximately half of breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) due to axillary positivity. Preventing axillary morbidity due to unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is extremely important for patients' quality of life. Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) is a technique developed to improve axillary staging and reduce the false negative rate in sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Methods

Patients with cN1-N2 (clinically node) breast cancer whose axillary lymph node metastasis was confirmed by biopsy and who received NAC marked with a clip were included in the study. Patients who achieved clinical response after systemic treatment underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with additional methods such as methylene blue guided dissection, skin marking for clip on lymph node (CLN) localization, and wire guided with imaging excision of the CLN. TAD and ALND pathology results were evaluated and analyzed with patient and tumor characteristics.

Results

83 patients who met the eligibility criterias for the study were examined retrospectively. 21 of the patients underwent TAD alone, and 62 patients underwent ALND after TAD. CLN rate was 98.8% in patients underwent only TAD and this rate was increased to 100% in patients underwent ALND after TAD. FNR in SLN, CLN, and TAD were 28.6%, 10.7%, and 3.6%, respectively.

Conclusion

TAD is a feasible and reliable surgical approach to detect axillary residual disease with a high success rate.

Applicability of magnetic seeds for target lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in initially node-positive breast cancer patients: data from the AXSANA study

PURPOSE

Currently, various techniques are available to mark and selectively remove initially suspicious axillary lymph nodes (target lymph nodes, TLNs) in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). To date, limited data are available on whether the use of magnetic seeds (MS) is suitable for localizing TLNs. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of MS in patients undergoing target lymph node biopsy (TLNB) or targeted axillary dissection (TAD) after NACT.

METHODS

Prospective data from the ongoing multicentric AXSANA study were extracted from selected patients in whom the TLN had been marked with an MS before NACT and who were enrolled from June 2020 to June 2023. The endpoints of the analysis were the detection rate, the rate of lost markers, and the potential impairment on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment.

RESULTS

In 187 patients from 27 study sites in seven countries, MS were placed into the TLN before NACT. In 151 of these, post-NACT surgery had been completed at the time of analysis. In 146 patients (96.0%), a TLN could successfully be detected. In three patients, the seed was removed but no lymphoid tissue was detected on histopathology. The rate of lost markers was 1.2% (2 out of 164 MS). In 15 out of 151 patients (9.9%), MRI assessment was reported to be compromised by MS placement.

CONCLUSION

MS show excellent applicability for TLNB/TAD when inserted before NACT with a high DR and a low rate of lost markers. Axillary MS can impair MRI assessment of the breast.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04373655 (date of registration May 4, 2020).

Feasibility and safety of targeted axillary dissection guided by intraoperative ultrasound after neoadjuvant treatment

BACKGROUND

Axillary management in cN + axillary nodes after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) in breast cancer (BC) remains under research with the aim of de-escalation of axillary node dissection (ALND). Several axillary guided localization techniques have been reported. This study evaluates the safety of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) guided targeted axillary dissection (TAD) in a large sample after the results of ILINA trial.

MATERIALS

Prospective data have been collected from October 2015 to June 2022 in patients with cT0-T4 and positive axillary lymph nodes (cN1) treated with NST. Before NST, an ultrasound visible marker was placed into the positive node. After NST, IOUS guided TAD was performed including sentinel node biopsy (SLN). Until December 2019, all patients underwent an ALND after TAD procedure. From January 2020, ALND was spared in those patients with an axillary pathological complete response (pCR).

RESULTS

235 patients were included. pCR (ypT0/is ypN0) was achieved in 29% patients. Identification rate (IR) of the clipped node by IOUS was 96% (95% IC, 92.5-98.1%) and IR of SLN was 95% (95% IC, 90.8-97.2%). False negative rate (FNR) for TAD procedure (SLN + clipped node) was 7.0% (95% IC, 2.3-15.7%), which decreased to 4.9% when a total of 3 or more nodes were removed. Axillary ultrasound before surgery assessed residual disease with an AUC of 0.5241. Residual axillary disease tend to be the most significant factor for axillary recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the feasibility, safety and accuracy of IOUS guided surgery for axillary staging after NST in node positive BC patients.

Ideal marker for targeted axillary dissection (IMTAD): a prospective multicentre trial

BACKGROUND

Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) is an established method for axillary staging in patients with breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). TAD consists of sentinel lymph node biopsy and initially pathological lymph node excision, which must be marked by a reliable marker before NAC.

METHODS

The IMTAD study is a prospective multicentre trial comparing three localisation markers for lymph node localisation (clip + iodine seed, magnetic seed, carbon suspension) facilitating subsequent surgical excision in the form of TAD. The primary outcome was to prospectively compare the reliability, accuracy, and safety according to complication rate during marker implantation and detection and marker dislodgement.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-nine patients were included in the study-in 135 patients clip + iodine seed was used, in 30 patients magnetic seed and in 24 patients carbon suspension. The complication rate during the marker implantation and detection were not statistically significant between individual markers (p = 0.263; p = 0.117). Marker dislodgement was reported in 4 patients with clip + iodine seed localisation (3.0%), dislodgement did not occur in other localisation methods (p = 0.999). The false-negativity of sentinel lymph node (SLN) was observed in 8 patients, the false-negativity of targeted lymph nodes (TLN) wasn´t observed at all, the false-negativity rate (FNR) from the subcohort of ypN + patients for SLN is 9.6% and for TLN 0.0%.

CONCLUSION

The IMTAD study indicated, that clip + iodine seed, magnetic seed and carbon suspension are statistically comparable in terms of complications during marker implantation and detection and marker dislodgement proving their safety, accuracy, and reliability in TAD. The study confirmed, that the FNR of the TLN was lower than the FNR of the SLN proving that the TLN is a better marker for axillary lymph node status after NAC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04580251. Name of registry: Clinicaltrials.gov. Date of registration: 8.10.2020.

Advances in the Management of Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with both inter- and intratumor heterogeneity, thought to result in a more aggressive course and worse outcomes. Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has become the preferred treatment modality of early-stage TNBC as it allows for the downstaging of tumors in the breast and axilla, monitoring early treatment response, and most importantly, provides important prognostic information that is essential to determining post-surgical therapies to improve outcomes. It focuses on combinations of systemic drugs to optimize pathologic complete response (pCR). Excellent response to NAT has allowed surgical de-escalation in ideal candidates. Further, treatment algorithms guide the systemic management of patients based on their pCR status following surgery. The expanding knowledge of molecular pathways, genomic sequencing, and the immunological profile of TNBC has led to the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted agents, including PARP inhibitors, further revolutionizing the therapeutic landscape of this clinical entity. However, subgroups most likely to benefit from these novel approaches in TNBC remain elusive and are being extensively studied. In this review, we describe current practices and promising therapeutic options on the horizon for TNBC, surgical advances, and future trends in molecular determinants of response to therapy in early-stage TNBC.

SPECT/CT Lymphoscintigraphy Accurately Localizes Clipped and Sentinel Nodes After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Node-Positive Breast Cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy on targeted axillary dissection (TAD) in node-positive breast cancer (BC) patients who had undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

METHODS

Sixty-two female BC patients with biopsy-confirmed axillary nodal metastases underwent NAC, followed by breast surgery with TAD. A metallic clip was placed in the sampled LN before NAC. On the day of surgery, a periareolar intradermal 99m Tc-nanocolloid injection was administered, followed by SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy. The clipped nodes were localized on CT images, assessed for 99m Tc uptake before surgery, and confirmed during the procedure.

RESULTS

T1-4, N1-2 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. The clipped node was the SLN in 54 (88.5%) patients. In 3 patients (4.9%), a clip was found in a nonsentinel lymph node. In 4 patients, the clips were not visible on SPECT/CT images, and lymph nodes were not found during the procedure. SPECT/CT correctly localized the clipped lymph node in all patients. The overall false-negative rate for TAD was 3.33%. The mean follow-up duration was 29 months, and there were no axillary recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy can accurately localize clipped nodes and SLNs after NAC in patients with node-positive BC.

Surgical Management of the Axilla for Breast Cancer

This review discusses the contemporary surgical management of the axilla in patients with breast cancer. Surgical paradigms are highlighted by clinical nodal status at presentation and treatment approach, including upfront surgery and neoadjuvant systemic therapy settings. This review focuses on the increasing opportunities for de-escalating the extent of axillary surgery in the era of sentinel lymph node biopsy, while also reviewing the remaining indications for axillary clearance with axillary lymph node dissection.