[Sentinel node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. Its relation with molecular subtypes]. / La biopsia del ganglio centinela después de quimioterapia neoadyuvante en el cáncer de mama. Relación con los subtipos moleculares.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the molecular subtype (MS) in the Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) technique after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in women with locally advanced breast cancer (BC) and a complete axillary response (CR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study involving 70 patients with BC treated with NAC was carried out. An axillary lymph node dissection was performed in the first 48 patients (validation group: VG), and in case of micro- or macrometastases in the therapeutic application phase (therapy group:TG). Classified according to MS: 14 luminal A; 16 luminal B HER2-, 13 luminal B HER2+, 10HER2+ non-luminal, 17 triple-negative. RESULTS: SNB was carried out in 98.6% of the cases, with only one false negative result in the VG (FN=2%). Molecular subtype did not affect SN detection. Despite the existence of axillary CR, statistically significant differences were found in the proportion of macrometastasis (16.7% vs. 35.7%, p=0.043) on comparing the pre-NAC cN0 and cN+. Breast tumor response to NAC varied among the different MS, this being lowest in luminal A (21.5%) and highest in non-luminal HER2+ group (80%). HER2+ and triple-negative were the groups with the best axillary histological response both when there was prior clinical involvement and when there was not. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular subtype is a predictive factor of the degree of tumor response to NAC in breast cancer. However, it does not affect SNB detection and efficiency. SNB can also be used safely in women with prior node involvement as long as a complete clinical and radiological assessment is made of the node response to NAC.

Intraoperative ultrasound in conservative surgery for non-palpable breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

AIMS: A complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in breast cancer patients hinders the localization of the residual lesion and the removal of a minimum amount of breast tissue. The aim of the present work is to report our single-centre experience with intraoperative ultrasound-guided (IOUS) excision performed by surgeons in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2008 to December 2012, IOUS excisions were performed on 58 patients with a previous intralesional ultrasound-detectable metallic marker and non-palpable breast cancer after NACT. The specimen margins were estimated by ultrasonography and macroscopic pathologic examination. Successful lesion removal, specimen weight, and analysis of the results as regards margins were evaluated, and the need for breast-conserving re-excision and mastectomy was considered. RESULTS: After NACT the average ultrasound/mammography and MRI diameters were 11.7 mm (0-30) and 9.1 mm (0-40) respectively. In all cases, the residual lesion or tissue around the marker was removed. The average weight of the specimens was 26.4 g (6-84), being lower in cases of complete response according to ultrasound (p < 0.05). In 4 patients (6.8%), breast-conserving re-excision was carried out, and in 3 patients (5.2%) a secondary mastectomy was performed, two of which had invasive lobular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The emplacement of a readily echodetectable metal marker before NACT makes IOUS excision feasible in an increasing number of complete clinical responses, with the excision of small amounts of breast tissue and a high percentage of conservative breast surgery. This technique requires surgeons to be trained, but has the advantage of a reduced use of other hospital services, better planning of operating theatres, and less discomfort for patients, which means that it is attractive and indeed recommendable.

[Incidence of axillary recurrence after a negative sentinel lymph node result in early stages of breast cancer: a 5-year follow-up]. / Incidencia de recurrencia axilar tras un ganglio centinela negativo en cáncer de mama en estadios iniciales: seguimiento de 5 años.

UNLABELLED: The sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is currently the procedure of choice for axillary node staging in initial stages of breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to establish our false negative rate within a 5-year follow-up period in 258 patients with breast cancer staged with this procedure. METHODS: A retrospective study on 258 consecutive T1-T2<3 cm pN0 staged breast carcinomas treated from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2005 was performed. The combined technique of isotope plus blue dye was used for detection. The subjects underwent a minimum follow-up of 5 years, mean 81 months, with an end of follow-up at December 31, 2010. Evidence of axillary recurrence, tumor recurrence in the breast and signs of disease progression or death were the events collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 258 patients, 3 false negatives (1.1%) with axillary recurrence were detected at 10, 11 and 29 months of the surgery. This did not have a significant repercussion in the survival analysis on the contrary to the existence of breast recurrence or the appearance of distant metastasis in 4.7% and 6.2% patients, respectively. Global survival related with the cancer was 93.0 (240/258) and disease free survival was 89.1% (230/258). CONCLUSION: The risk of developing axillary recurrence after a negative SLN without axillary node dissection is low enough to consider the SLN procedure to be the best approach for axilla staging in early breast cancer. This staging technique also makes it possible to achieve local disease control without diminishing the survival of the patients.

Incidencia de recurrencia axilar tras un ganglio centinela negativo en cáncer de mama en estadios iniciales: seguimiento de 5 años / Incidence of axillary recurrence after a negative sentinel lymph node result in early stages of breast cancer: a 5-year follow-up

La biopsia selectiva del ganglio centinela (GC) es en la actualidad el procedimiento de elección en la estadificación axilar en cánceres de mama en estadios iniciales. El objetivo de este trabajo es establecer nuestra tasa de falsos negativos a lo largo de un período mínimo de 5 años de seguimiento de 258 pacientes con cáncer de mama estadificados mediante este procedimiento. Método. Estudio retrospectivo de 258 pacientes con cáncer de mama consecutivos T1-T2<3cm estadificados como pN0 mediante GC entre enero-2001 y diciembre-2005.Se empleó la técnica combinada isotópica y colorante para la detección. Fueron sometidos a seguimiento con un período mínimo de 5 años, la media fue 81 meses, siendo el punto final del seguimiento el 31 de diciembre de 2010. La evidencia de recurrencia axilar, recidiva tumoral en la mama, presencia de enfermedad a distancia, y muerte fueron los eventos recogidos y analizados. Resultados. De las 258 pacientes, se detectaron 3 falsos negativos (1,1%), con recurrencia axilar a los 10, 11 y 29 meses de la cirugía. En el análisis de supervivencia este hecho no tuvo repercusión significativa, a diferencia de la existencia de recidiva mamaria o la aparición de metástasis a distancia que ocurrieron en un 4,7 y un 6,2% de las pacientes. La supervivencia global relacionada con el cáncer fue de un 93,0% (240/258) y la supervivencia libre de enfermedad del 89,1% (230/258). Conclusión. El riesgo de recurrencia axilar tras un ganglio centinela negativo sin vaciamiento linfático completo es lo suficientemente bajo como para considerar a este procedimiento como de elección en la estadificación axilar del cáncer de mama en estadios iniciales. Además, permite alcanzar un adecuado control local de la enfermedad sin disminuir la supervivencia de los pacientes(AU)

The sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is currently the procedure of choice for axillary node staging in initial stages of breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to establish our false negative rate within a 5-year follow-up period in 258 patients with breast cancer staged with this procedure. Methods. A retrospective study on 258 consecutive T1-T2<3cm pN0 staged breast carcinomas treated from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2005 was performed. The combined technique of isotope plus blue dye was used for detection. The subjects underwent a minimum follow-up of 5 years, mean 81 months, with an end of follow-up at December 31, 2010. Evidence of axillary recurrence, tumor recurrence in the breast and signs of disease progression or death were the events collected and analyzed. Results. Of the 258 patients, 3 false negatives (1.1%) with axillary recurrence were detected at 10, 11 and 29 months of the surgery. This did not have a significant repercussion in the survival analysis on the contrary to the existence of breast recurrence or the appearance of distant metastasis in 4.7% and 6.2% patients, respectively. Global survival related with the cancer was 93.0 (240/258) and disease free survival was 89.1% (230/258). Conclusion. The risk of developing axillary recurrence after a negative SLN without axillary node dissection is low enough to consider the SLN procedure to be the best approach for axilla staging in early breast cancer. This staging technique also makes it possible to achieve local disease control without diminishing the survival of the patients(AU)

[Sentinel node biopsy in T2 breast cancers larger than 3 cm and clinically negative axilla compared with the T1-T2 <3 cm standard indication]. / La biopsia del ganglio centinela en cáncer de mama de más de 3 cm y axila clínicamente negativa frente a la indicación estándar T1-T2 < 3 cm.

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience in the application of sentinel node (SN) biopsy in patients with breast cancer T > 3 cm without clinical evidence of axillary metastasis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study of 393 cases in the period 2001--2006, divided into group (A) 47 patients with 3-5 cm T2N0 tumours and group (B) 346 patients T < 3 cm, N0. We employed the combined technique with 99mTc-colloidal rhenium sulphide and isosulfan blue dye. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was performed and the SN was located intraoperatively with a gamma ray detection probe and the blue dye. Axillary lymph node dissection was completed only when the SN was positive for metastasis in the histopathology analysis or not located. RESULTS: The SN detection rate for T2 > 3 cm was 94 % in the scintigraphy and 96 % with the probe, with no statistically significant differences between T < 3 cm (97 % and 98 %). In T2 > 3 cm, the final staging was 45 % pN0, 8 % pN1mi, 34 % pN1a, 11 % pN2a and 2 % pN3a. We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) when compared with palpable T < 3 cm and non-palpable cancer (62 % pN0 and 74 % pN0, respectively). In the follow-up of T2 > 3 cm (median 42.88 months) we did not find any axillary relapse which could be considered a false negative of the technique. CONCLUSION: The detection of sentinel lymph nodes is feasible and safe in tumours larger than 3cm with clinically negative axilla. Axillary lymph node dissection can be avoided in 45 % of these patients and therefore, we consider that they should be included as a general indication in breast cancer SN detection.