ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) as compared with the number of pN staging in patients with axillary lymph node-positive breast cancer treated by breast conserving surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of patients who received breast conserving surgery and with positive lymph nodes (n = 152) between 1998 and 2007. The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared based on the LNR and pN staging.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 152 patients were classified as pN1 in 114, pN2 in 23, and pN3 in 15 cases. Among the 152 cases, 114 cases had a LNR ≤ 0.20, 26 cases had 0.21-0.65, and 12 cases had a LNR>0.65. Univariate analysis showed that number of dissected lymph nodes, LNR, pN stage, ER/PR status and radiotherapy were significant prognostic factors for DFS and OS (P < 0.05 for all). Age and chemotherapy were prognostic factors only for OS (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that LNR was an independent prognostic factor for DFS and OS (P < 0.05 for both). pN stage had no significant effect on DFS or OS (P > 0.05 for both). In the pN subgroup analysis, LNR was also showed to be significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LNR is superior to pN staging as a prognostic factor in axillary lymph node-positive breast cancer patients treated by breast conservation surgery, and can be used as one of independent prognostic predictors for the patients.</p>
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Axilla , Breast Neoplasms , Diagnosis , General Surgery , Disease-Free Survival , Lymph Node Excision , Lymph Nodes , Lymphatic Metastasis , Mastectomy, Segmental , Multivariate Analysis , Neoplasm Staging , Prognosis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Objective:To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic risk factors of T1-2 stage breast cancer patients with one to three positive node(s) and their effects on the benefits of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 457 breast cancer patients with T1-2 stage and one to three positive axillary lymph nodes treated in our hospital between 2000 and 2002. The independent prognostic factors of the patients were calculated by the Cox proportional hazards model. The patients were fur-ther classified into high-risk and low-risk subgroups according to the risk factors to explore the benefit of PMRT on the prognosis of dif-ferent subgroups using survival analysis. Results:PMRT was not an independent beneficial factor of overall survival (OS) (HR=0.949;CI:0.435-2.074;P=0.896) or loco-regional recurrent free survival (LRRFS) (HR=0.611;CI:0.231-1.614;P=0.320) in all patients. Ex-tracapsular extension (ECE) and pathological grades were independent prognostic risk factors, and the benefits of PMRT were signifi-cantly different on the prognosis of high-risk subgroup patients (group ECE+OS:P=0.020, LRRFS:P=0.014;group GradeⅢOS:P=0.002, LRRFS:P<0.001). Meanwhile, PMRT failed to prolong the OS and LRRFS of low-risk subgroup patients (group ECE+OS:P=0.353, LRRFS:P=0.796;group GradeⅠtoⅡOS:P=0.267, LRRFS:P=0.589). Conclusion:ECE and gradeⅢwere the independent risk factors of death and loco-regional recurrence in the T1-2 breast cancer patients with one to three positive lymph node(s). PMRT was an effective adjuvant therapy to improve the prognosis of patients with high-risk factors. However, the benefit of PMRT had no sig-nificance in patients with ECE-or gradeⅠ-Ⅱ.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the prognostic value of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) in patients with axillary lymph node-positive breast cancer treated with breast conservation surgery and to establish the candidates for PMRT based on different pN stages and lymph node ratios (LNR). Methods:A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of the patients was conducted. The pa-tients had positive lymph nodes (n=152) between 1998 and 2007 and underwent breast conservation surgery. A comparison of the dis-ease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates was conducted based on LNR and pN staging and with PMRT as a prognostic factor. Results:A total of 152 cases were studied, of which 114 were pN1, 23 were pN2, and 15 were pN3. Among these cases, 114 had an LNR ranging from 0.01 to 0.20, 26 had an LNR from 0.21 to 0.65, and 12 had an LNR>0.65. Univariate analysis showed that the number of dissected lymph nodes, LNR, pN stage, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and radiotherapy were the prognostic fac-tors for DFS and OS rates (P0.05). In the subgroup analysis, PMRT had significant effect on DFS and OS (P<0.05) in patients with pN1 and LNR<0.21. Conclusion:LNR is an independent prognostic factor in axillary lymph node-positive breast cancer patients treated with breast conservation surgery, and a candidate for PMRT should be established based on different LNR risks.
ABSTRACT
Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) is a technique used to map and preserve arm lymphatic drainage during axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and/or sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND). As a result, the risk of arm lymphedema is reduced. ARM is an emerging technology for breast cancer surgery and currently in the clinical trial phase. In this article, related clinical trials conducted in recent years were reviewed and the displaying methods of ARM lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels were analyzed. The feasibility of retained ARM lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels was also evaluated. Furthermore, the clinical significance of ARM was evaluated in terms of the reduction of the incidence of upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer surgery.
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The overexpression of proto-oncogene protein c-pim-1 (Pim-1) in tumor tissue is related to the stage and prognosis.Recent studies indicate that Pim-1 plays a critical role in the proliferation and apoptosis of cells and the metastasis of tumor.Pim-1 acts as an essential factor in several signaling pathways and its expression and activation are regulated by many factors as well as affects others widely.As an influential factor in the occurrence and development of tumor,Pim-1 has been a potential target in oncotherapy.