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Kontos M, Kanavidis P, Kühn T, Masannat Y, Gulluoglu B. Targeted axillary dissection: worldwide variations in clinical practice. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2024; 204:389-396. [PMID: 38175449 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07204-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) for the axillary staging of clinically node-positive (cN +) breast cancer patients converting to clinically node negative post neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), has gained popularity due to its minimal false negative rate and low arm morbidity. The aim of this study is to shed more light on the variation in the clinical practice globally in terms of indications and perceived limitations of TAD. METHODS A panel of expert breast surgeons constructed a structured questionnaire comprising of 18 questions and asked surgeons worldwide for their opinions and routine practice on TAD. The questionnaire was electronically distributed and answers were collected between May 1st and August 1st 2022. RESULTS Responses included 137 entries from 36 countries. Of them, 73.7% consider TAD for cN + patients planned to receive NAC. Among them, the greatest number of respondents (45%) perform the procedure for tumours up to T3, whereas 27% regardless of T-stage. The majority (42%) perform TAD on patients with 1-3 positive nodes and only 30% consider TAD when matted nodes are present. HER2 positive and Triple Negative subtypes are more likely to undergo TAD than Luminal A and B (86%, 79.1%, 39.5%, and 62.8%, respectively). Maximum acceptable lymph node burden is median 3 nodes for any subtype with a tendency to accept more positive nodes for Triple Negative. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the differences in current practice regarding TAD as well as the fact that the biology of the tumour heavily affects the method of axillary staging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michalis Kontos
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Yazan Masannat
- Broomfield Hospital, Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, Chelmsford, UK, Broomfield, UK
- University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine, Medical Science and Nutrition, Aberdeen, UK
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Brousse S, Lafond C, Schmitt M, Guillermet S, Molière S, Mathelin C. [Can we avoid axillary lymph node dissection in patients with node positive invasive breast carcinoma?]. GYNECOLOGIE, OBSTETRIQUE, FERTILITE & SENOLOGIE 2024; 52:132-141. [PMID: 38190968 DOI: 10.1016/j.gofs.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The indications and modalities of breast and axillary surgery are undergoing profound change, with the aim of personalizing surgical management while avoiding over-treatment. To update best practices for axillary surgery, four questions were selected by the Senology Commission of the Collège National des Gynécologues et Obstétriciens Français (CNGOF), focusing on, firstly, the definition and evaluation of targeted axillary dissection (TAD) techniques; secondly, the possibility of surgical de-escalation in case of initial lymph node involvement while performing initial surgery; thirdly, in case of surgery following neo-adjuvant systemic therapy (NAST), and fourthly, contra-indications to de-escalation of axillary surgery to allow access to particular adjuvant systemic therapies. METHODS The Senology Commission based its responses primarily on an analysis of the international literature, clinical practice recommendations and national and international guidelines. RESULTS Firstly, TAD is a technique that combines excision of clipped metastatic axillary node(s) and the axillary sentinel lymph nodes (ASLNs). The detection rate and sensitivity are increased but it still needs to be standardized and practices better evaluated. Secondly, TAD represents an alternative to axillary clearance in cases of metastatic involvement of a single node that can be resected. Thirdly, neither TAD nor ASLN alone is recommended in France after NAST outside of clinical trials, although it is used in several countries in cases of complete pathological response in the lymph nodes, and when at least three lymph nodes have been removed. Fourthly, as some adjuvant targeted therapies are indicated in cases of lymph node invasion of more than three lymph nodes, the place of TAD in this context remains to be defined. CONCLUSION Axillary surgical de-escalation can limit the morbidity of axillary clearance. Having proved that TAD does not reduce patient survival, it will most probably replace axillary clearance in well-defined indications. This will require prior standardization of the method and its indications and contra-indications, particularly to enable the use of new targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susie Brousse
- Service de chirurgie, centre Eugène-Marquis, avenue de la Bataille Flandres-Dunkerque, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
| | - Clémentine Lafond
- Service de chirurgie, centre Eugène-Marquis, avenue de la Bataille Flandres-Dunkerque, 35042 Rennes cedex, France; Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, CHU de Rennes, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Martin Schmitt
- Service de radiothérapie, CHR-Metz-Thionville, hôpital de Mercy, 1, allée du Château, 57085 Metz cedex, France
| | - Sophie Guillermet
- Service de chirurgie, centre Eugène-Marquis, avenue de la Bataille Flandres-Dunkerque, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Sébastien Molière
- Service d'imagerie de la femme, ICANS, avenue Albert-Calmette, 67200 Strasbourg, France; Service de radiologie B, CHU de Strasbourg, avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Carole Mathelin
- Service de chirurgie, ICANS, CHRU, avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France
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Tauber N, Bjelic-Radisic V, Thill M, Banys-Paluchowski M. Controversies in axillary management of patients with breast cancer - updates for 2024. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2024; 36:51-56. [PMID: 37678325 DOI: 10.1097/gco.0000000000000916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW For some time now, the question of de-escalation in axillary staging in breast cancer patients has been raised. The aim is to improve the patients' quality of life and reduce morbidity by optimizing surgical strategies with a high level of oncological safety. This review offers a current overview of published evidence and clinical practice, aiming to guide the surgical community as they reassess and reshape their practices. RECENT FINDINGS Years after introducing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in clinically node negative breast cancer patients several guidelines suggest completely omitting SLNB in older patients with low-risk tumors. It is worth noting that for patients with a metastatic sentinel lymph node in the upfront surgery setting, a de-escalation of axillary surgery may in fact lead to an escalation of radiation therapy. Currently, there is limited evidence on the axillary surgical approach for patients with initially positive node status achieving complete axillary response (ycN0), resulting in heterogenous guideline recommendations. SUMMARY Innovative trials are contributing to a growing evidence on de-escalation of axillary surgery with the aim of reducing arm morbidity and improving long-term health-related quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Tauber
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck
| | | | - Marc Thill
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, Breast Center, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt/M
| | - Maggie Banys-Paluchowski
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Köpke MM, Aktas B, Ditsch N. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with early breast cancer: update 2023. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2023; 35:67-72. [PMID: 36595649 DOI: 10.1097/gco.0000000000000835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In recent years, the therapy of breast carcinoma has evolved at a rapid pace. Therapies from metastasis are pushing into the (neo)adjuvant treatment of breast carcinoma at ever shorter intervals. RECENT FINDINGS Biomarker-based therapeutic approaches became more and more en vogue to guide (neo)adjuvant endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. SUMMARY This article reviews recent data developments in early breast cancer (EBC) and current recommendations in diagnosis and therapy.
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Munoz P, Corral S, Martínez-Regueira F, Paz A, Muñoz-Madero V, Mena A, Cabañas J, Rivas S. Axillary staging and management of cN + breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: results of a survey among breast cancer surgeons in Spain. CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPANISH ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES AND OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF MEXICO 2022; 25:1463-1471. [PMID: 36586064 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-03049-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Given the high rate of complete nodal response, the role of axillary lymph node dissection on staging the axilla has been questioned. This survey, addressed to breast cancer surgeons in Spain, has the objective of assessing current clinical trends on axillary staging of cN + patients treated with NAC. METHODS An online survey was conducted among breast surgeons from the Spanish Society of Surgery (AEC), Spanish Surgical Oncology Society (SEOQ), Spanish Breast Cancer Surgeons Society (AECIMA) and Spanish Gynecology and Obstetrics Society (SEGO). It was structured in 5 sections: general information and clinical practice, knowledge of clinical trials, diagnosis work-up and nodal marking, axillary staging, and axillary treatment. RESULTS 150 breast cancer surgeons completed the full survey (96.7%). 81.8% of respondents performed SLNB or targeted axillary dissection in cN1 patients treated with NAC. Radiological axillary response was the preferred parameter guiding the surgical strategy. The excision of the clipped node (92.0%), use of dual tracer (73.2%), and axillary US (65.9%) after treatment were the most important variables considered by respondents, to increase the accuracy of SLNB in cN + patients. CONCLUSION This survey confirms a trend toward a less invasive approach for axillary staging in cN + patients treated with NAC among breast cancer surgeons in Spain. While there is widespread agreement in less invasive approaches to axillary staging, there is, however, a lack of consensus around treatment strategy. Further, it shows a wide heterogeneity in their clinical practice. This study highlights the need for clear evidence concerning less invasive staging procedures and their oncological safety, to ensure consistent recommendations in surgical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Munoz
- General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Quironsalud Torrevieja, Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Sara Corral
- General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alejandro Paz
- General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Quironsalud Torrevieja, Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain
| | - Vicente Muñoz-Madero
- General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Quironsalud Torrevieja, Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain
| | - Antonio Mena
- General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacobo Cabañas
- General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Rivas
- General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The standard of care in breast surgery has changed, from mastectomy to breast conserving surgery whenever possible, and from axillary dissection to sentinel node biopsy. Neoadjuvant systemic approaches have broadened the indications for organ-conserving and less mutilating surgery, but also raise important questions of balancing locoregional treatment de-escalation and protecting excellent long-term outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have aimed at investigating the safety of de-escalating surgical approaches not only in the upfront breast surgery situation but also after neoadjuvant systemic therapy. This pertains to both the safety of breast conserving surgery - including more complex oncoplastic approaches - within the new (posttherapeutic) anatomical extent of the residual disease, but more controversially to de-escalating surgical treatment of the axilla. While sentinel node biopsy appears to be the standard of care for node-negative disease also after primary systemic therapy, the optimal procedure in situations of posttherapeutic node-positive disease remains highly controversial. SUMMARY Both breast and axillary surgery after neoadjuvant systemic therapy for women with breast cancer has undergone multiple paradigm changes in recent years. For the primary tumor in the breast, breast-conserving surgery constitutes the standard of care, and unnecessary mastectomies should be strongly discouraged. For axillary surgery, sentinel-node biopsy should be aimed at, and completion axillary dissections minimized for situations of extensive disease and or poor neoadjuvant treatment response. Additional techniques such as targeted axillary dissection are currently under evaluation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Gnant
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Banys-Paluchowski M, Thill M, Kühn T, Ditsch N, Heil J, Wöckel A, Fallenberg E, Friedrich M, Kümmel S, Müller V, Janni W, Albert US, Bauerfeind I, Blohmer JU, Budach W, Dall P, Fasching P, Fehm T, Gluz O, Harbeck N, Huober J, Jackisch C, Kolberg-Liedtke C, Kreipe HH, Krug D, Loibl S, Lüftner D, Lux MP, Maass N, Mundhenke C, Nitz U, Park-Simon TW, Reimer T, Rhiem K, Rody A, Schmidt M, Schneeweiss A, Schütz F, Sinn HP, Solbach C, Solomayer EF, Stickeler E, Thomssen C, Untch M, Witzel I, Gerber B. AGO Recommendations for the Surgical Therapy of Breast Cancer: Update 2022. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2022; 82:1031-1043. [PMID: 36186147 PMCID: PMC9525149 DOI: 10.1055/a-1904-6231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The recommendations of the AGO Breast Committee on the surgical therapy of breast cancer were last updated in March 2022 (www.ago-online.de). Since surgical therapy is one of several partial steps in the treatment of breast cancer, extensive diagnostic and oncological expertise of a breast surgeon and good interdisciplinary cooperation with diagnostic radiologists is of great importance. The most important changes concern localization techniques, resection margins, axillary management in the neoadjuvant setting and the evaluation of the meshes in reconstructive surgery. Based on meta-analyses of randomized studies, the level of recommendation of an intraoperative breast ultrasound for the localization of non-palpable lesions was elevated to "++". Thus, the technique is considered to be equivalent to wire localization, provided that it is a lesion which can be well represented by sonography, the surgeon has extensive experience in breast ultrasound and has access to a suitable ultrasound device during the operation. In invasive breast cancer, the aim is to reach negative resection margins ("no tumor on ink"), regardless of whether an extensive intraductal component is present or not. Oncoplastic operations can also replace a mastectomy in selected cases due to the large number of existing techniques, and are equivalent to segmental resection in terms of oncological safety at comparable rates of complications. Sentinel node excision is recommended for patients with cN0 status receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy after completion of chemotherapy. Minimally invasive biopsy is recommended for initially suspect lymph nodes. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, patients with initially 1 - 3 suspicious lymph nodes and a good response (ycN0) can receive the targeted axillary dissection and the axillary dissection as equivalent options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Banys-Paluchowski
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,Correspondence/Korrespondenzadresse Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Maggie Banys-Paluchowski Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und GeburtshilfeUniversitätsklinikum
Schleswig-Holstein Campus LübeckRatzeburger Allee 16023538
LübeckGermany
| | - Marc Thill
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Gynäkologische Onkologie, Agaplesion Markus Krankenhaus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thorsten Kühn
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Klinikum Esslingen, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Nina Ditsch
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Heil
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Sektion Senologie, Universitäts-Klinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Achim Wöckel
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Eva Fallenberg
- Institut für Radiologie, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Michael Friedrich
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Helios Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany
| | - Sherko Kümmel
- Klinik für Senologie, Evangelische Kliniken Essen Mitte, Essen, Germany
| | - Volkmar Müller
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Gynäkologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Janni
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ute-Susann Albert
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ingo Bauerfeind
- Frauenklinik, Klinikum Landshut gemeinnützige GmbH, Landshut, Germany
| | - Jens-Uwe Blohmer
- Klinik für Gynäkologie mit Brustzentrum des Universitätsklinikums der Charite, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wilfried Budach
- Strahlentherapie, Radiologie Düsseldorf, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter Dall
- Frauenklinik, Städtisches Klinikum Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Peter Fasching
- Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tanja Fehm
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Oleg Gluz
- Brustzentrum, Evang. Krankenhaus Bethesda, Mönchengladbach, Germany
| | - Nadia Harbeck
- Brustzentrum, Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
| | - Jens Huober
- Brustzentrum, Kantonspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Schweiz
| | - Christian Jackisch
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Sana Klinikum Offenbach GmbH, Offenbach, Germany
| | | | - Hans H. Kreipe
- Institut für Pathologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - David Krug
- Klinik für Strahlentherapie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sibylle Loibl
- German Breast Group c/o GBG Forschungs GmbH, Neu-Isenburg, Neu-Isenburg, Germany,Zentrum für Hämatologie und Onkologie Bethanien, Frankfurt am Main, Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Diana Lüftner
- Medical University of Brandenburg Theodor-Fontane & Immanuel Hospital Märkische Schweiz, Buckow, Germany
| | - Michael Patrick Lux
- Kooperatives Brustzentrum Paderborn, Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Frauenklinik St. Louise, Paderborn und St. Josefs-Krankenhaus, Salzkotten, St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus
GmbH, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Nicolai Maass
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christoph Mundhenke
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Klinikum Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Ulrike Nitz
- Brustzentrum, Evang. Krankenhaus Bethesda, Mönchengladbach, Germany
| | - Tjoung Won Park-Simon
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Toralf Reimer
- Universitätsfrauenklinik und Poliklinik am Klinikum Südstadt, Rostock, Germany
| | - Kerstin Rhiem
- Zentrum Familiärer Brust- und Eierstockkrebs, Universitätsklinikum Köln, Köln, Germany
| | - Achim Rody
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Marcus Schmidt
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Geburtshilfe und Frauengesundheit der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas Schneeweiss
- Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen, Universitätsklinikum und Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Schütz
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Diakonissen Krankenhaus Speyer, Speyer, Germany
| | - H. Peter Sinn
- Sektion Gynäkopathologie, Pathologisches Institut, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christine Solbach
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Erich-Franz Solomayer
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde, Geburtshilfe und Reproduktionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Elmar Stickeler
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christoph Thomssen
- Universitätsfrauenklinik, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Michael Untch
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabell Witzel
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Gynäkologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Gerber
- Universitätsfrauenklinik und Poliklinik am Klinikum Südstadt, Rostock, Germany
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Banys-Paluchowski M, Gasparri ML, de Boniface J, Gentilini O, Stickeler E, Hartmann S, Thill M, Rubio IT, Di Micco R, Bonci EA, Niinikoski L, Kontos M, Karadeniz Cakmak G, Hauptmann M, Peintinger F, Pinto D, Matrai Z, Murawa D, Kadayaprath G, Dostalek L, Nina H, Krivorotko P, Classe JM, Schlichting E, Appelgren M, Paluchowski P, Solbach C, Blohmer JU, Kühn T. Surgical Management of the Axilla in Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Converting to Clinical Node Negativity through Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Rationale for the EUBREAST-03 AXSANA Study. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1565. [PMID: 33805367 PMCID: PMC8037995 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, surgical methods for axillary staging in breast cancer patients have become less extensive, and full axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is confined to selected patients. In initially node-positive patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, however, the optimal management remains unclear. Current guidelines vary widely, endorsing different strategies. We performed a literature review on axillary staging strategies and their place in international recommendations. This overview defines knowledge gaps associated with specific procedures, summarizes currently ongoing clinical trials that address these unsolved issues, and provides the rationale for further research. While some guidelines have already implemented surgical de-escalation, replacing ALND with, e.g., sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or targeted axillary dissection (TAD) in cN+ patients converting to clinical node negativity, others recommend ALND. Numerous techniques are in use for tagging lymph node metastasis, but many questions regarding the marking technique, i.e., the optimal time for marker placement and the number of marked nodes, remain unanswered. The optimal number of SLNs to be excised also remains a matter of debate. Data on oncological safety and quality of life following different staging procedures are lacking. These results provide the rationale for the multinational prospective cohort study AXSANA initiated by EUBREAST, which started enrollment in June 2020 and aims at recruiting 3000 patients in 20 countries (NCT04373655; Funded by AGO-B, Claudia von Schilling Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, AWOgyn, EndoMag, Mammotome, and MeritMedical).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Banys-Paluchowski
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Campus Lübeck, University Hospital of Schleswig Holstein, 23538 Lübeck, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Maria Luisa Gasparri
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland;
- Faculty of Biomedicine, University of the Italian Switzerland (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Jana de Boniface
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (J.d.B.); (M.A.)
- Department of Surgery, Capio St. Göran’s Hospital, 112 19 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oreste Gentilini
- Breast Surgery Unit, San Raffaele Hospital Milan, 20132 Milano MI, Italy; (O.G.); (R.D.M.)
| | - Elmar Stickeler
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Steffi Hartmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Marc Thill
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, AGAPLESION Markus Krankenhaus, 60431 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
| | - Isabel T. Rubio
- Breast Surgical Unit, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 28027 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Rosa Di Micco
- Breast Surgery Unit, San Raffaele Hospital Milan, 20132 Milano MI, Italy; (O.G.); (R.D.M.)
| | - Eduard-Alexandru Bonci
- Department of Surgical Oncology, “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuță” Institute of Oncology, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- 11th Department of Oncological Surgery and Gynecological Oncology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Laura Niinikoski
- Breast Surgery Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, 00280 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Michalis Kontos
- 1st Department of Surgery, Laiko Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
| | - Guldeniz Karadeniz Cakmak
- Breast and Endocrine Unit, General Surgery Department, Zonguldak BEUN The School of Medicine, Kozlu/Zonguldak 67600, Turkey;
| | - Michael Hauptmann
- Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany;
| | | | - David Pinto
- Champalimaud Clinical Center, Breast Unit, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Zoltan Matrai
- Department of Breast and Sarcoma Surgery, National Institute of Oncology, 1122 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Dawid Murawa
- Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland;
| | - Geeta Kadayaprath
- Breast Surgical Oncology and Oncoplastic Surgery, Max Institute of Cancer Care, Max Healthcare Delhi, Delhi 110092, India;
| | - Lukas Dostalek
- Gynecologic Oncology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, General University Hospital, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Helidon Nina
- Oncology Hospital, University Hospital Center “Nene Tereza”, 1000 Tirana, Albania;
| | - Petr Krivorotko
- Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, 197758 Saint-Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Jean-Marc Classe
- Department of surgical oncology, Institut de cancerologie de l’Ouest Nantes, 44800 Saint Herblain, France;
| | - Ellen Schlichting
- Department for Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, 0188 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Matilda Appelgren
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (J.d.B.); (M.A.)
| | - Peter Paluchowski
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Regio Klinikum Pinneberg, 25421 Pinneberg, Germany;
| | - Christine Solbach
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
| | - Jens-Uwe Blohmer
- Department of Gynecology and Breast Cancer Center, Charite Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Thorsten Kühn
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Klinikum Esslingen, 73730 Esslingen, Germany;
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