Limited Supraclavicular Radiation Field in Breast Cancer With ≥ 10 Positive Axillary Lymph Nodes.

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to evaluate the patterns of recurrence and factors related to axillary or supraclavicular recurrence (ASR) and to suggest the probable indications of supraclavicular radiotherapy (SCRT) field modification for breast cancer patients with ≥ 10 axillary lymph node (LN) metastases who had received the current standard systemic management and limited-field SCRT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients with breast cancer with ≥ 10 axillary LN metastases who had received standard surgery with postoperative RT, including limited SCRT (level III and supraclavicular area) and taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy (except for neoadjuvant chemotherapy), from January 2000 to June 2012. ASR was defined as recurrence to levels I to III of the axillary or supraclavicular area. RESULTS: The present study included 301 patients with breast cancer with ≥ 10 axillary LN metastases. The median follow-up period was 59.1 months (range, 7.4-167.9 months). Overall, 32 cases (10.6%) of locoregional recurrence were observed, and 27 patients (9.0%) exhibited ASR. Additionally, 16 patients (5.3%) developed recurrence in levels I or II of the axillary area, which are not included in the SCRT field. ASR-free survival was significantly related to the LN ratio (LNR) in both univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: ASR was the most prevalent locoregional recurrence pattern in patients with breast cancer with ≥ 10 axillary LN metastases, and LNR was a significant prognostic factor for the development of ASR. Modification of the SCRT field, including the full axilla, should be considered in patients with a greater LNR.

Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of Pathologic N3 Breast Cancer Treated With Modern Standard Treatments.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate clinical outcomes and identify prognostic factors in pathologic N3 (pN3) breast cancer patients who received the current standard management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study with 333 pN3 breast cancer patients who received curative surgery with postoperative radiation therapy and taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy from January 2000 to June 2012. The median follow-up period was 58.3 months (range, 7.4-167.9 months). All of the 243 patients who were hormone receptor-positive received endocrine therapy, and trastuzumab therapy was used in 63 of 88 (71.6%) HER2-positive patients. RESULTS: Overall, 112 disease recurrences (33.6%) were documented during the follow-up. The first site of recurrence was locoregional in 21 patients (6.3%), distant metastases in 72 patients (21.6%), and both in 19 patients (5.7%). The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival were 63.3% and 86.9% at 5 years, respectively. DFS was significantly related to age (> 40 years; P = .008; hazard ratio [HR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.87), nuclear grade (I or II; P = .02; HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.93), and positive lymph node ratio (≤ 60%; P = .004; HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.38-0.83) in multivariate analysis. HER2-positive patients who were treated with trastuzumab showed more favorable DFS than HER2-negative patients. CONCLUSION: More than 60% of the pN3 breast cancer patients treated with the current standard management lived without disease longer than 5 years. Age, nuclear grade, and lymph node ratio were significant prognostic factors in pN3 breast cancer patients.