Locoregional Lymph Node Metastasis from Clinically Occult Breast Cancer: Prognostic Significance of Mastectomy.

Materials and Methods: This study included patients registered in the national Danish Breast Cancer Group (DBCG) database between 2001 and 2015, with locoregional LNM as well as a bilateral negative mammography, ultrasonography, and physical examination of the breasts. Overall survival (OS) and invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) were compared by treatment groups, ALND + RT (axillary lymph node dissection and radiotherapy) or ALND + MAST ± RT (axillary lymph node dissection, mastectomy with or without radiotherapy).
Results: In total, 56 patients were included in the study, of which 37 were treated by ALND + RT, 16 by ALND + MAST ± RT, and the remaining three patients receiving different treatments. The median follow-up for the 53 OBC patients sorted by treatment group was 12.2 years (interquartile range: 10.1 years; 15.3 years). There was no significant difference in OS or IDFS between the treatment groups, except for a subgroup of 46 (out of 53) patients without verified in situ lesions before treatment, where ALND + RT treatment showed an improved OS (log-rank p =0.05).
Conclusion: Treating OBC patients with ALND and radiotherapy resulted in a similar outcome as treatment with ALND and mastectomy. This supports omission of mastectomy in favor of radiotherapy of the breast in these patients.
Competing Interests: Ann Søegaard Knoop reports a relationship with Novartis that includes consulting or advisory and funding grants; reports a relationship with Seagen, Inc., that includes consulting or advisory; reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes consulting or advisory, funding grants, and travel reimbursement; reports a relationship with Pfizer that includes consulting or advisory; reports a relationship with Roche that includes funding grants; and reports a relationship with Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., that includes consulting or advisory and funding grants. Anne-Vibeke Lænkholm reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes consulting or advisory and funding grants and reports a relationship with MSD Denmark that includes consulting or advisory. Tove Filtenborg Tvedskov reports a relationship with Roche that includes speaking and lecture fees; reports a relationship with Pfizer that includes speaking and lecture fees; and reports a relationship with MSD Denmark that includes travel reimbursement.
(Copyright © 2024 Andreas Werner Nærum et al.)