Research

Adjuvant radiotherapy prevents locoregional relapses in patients with early breast cancer staged with sentinel node biopsy

Ricardo Ruano Perez, Manuel Ramos Boyero, Jose Ramon Garcia-Talavera, Juan Ignacio Rodriguez Melcon, Pedro Carreras Soria and Teresa Ramos Grande and Maria Carmen Garcia Macias
World Journal of Surgical Medical and Radiation Oncology 2013, 2:8

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study is to establish the outcomes of breast cancer patients surgically staged with sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and treated with adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), and to identify possible clinical or tumor-related factors that might help to prevent locoregional relapses.

Method

retrospective study of 317 consecutive breast cancer patients cT1-T2 (<3cm), treated from January 2001 to December 2005 and followed at least for 7 years till 31st December 2012. Events recorded were: axillary lymph node relapse, ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (BTR), contralateral breast cancer, and distant metastasis (DM). /p>

Results

axillary recurrence occurred in 1 out of 190 SLN negative patients (0.5%). BTR occurred in 16 patients (5.0%), with a median of 20 months from RT. In multivariate analysis HER2+++ status was the only risk factor related to BTR. A BTR related to poor prognosis, as 38% developed metastasis. DM occurred in 7.9% with a median of 2.5 years from surgery. 6 years cancer related survival was 93.4% (297/317) and disease free survival was 88.6% (281/317).

Conclusion

adjuvant radiotherapy, in combination with standard systemic therapy, in early staged breast cancer patients provides excellent long term cure rates with low locoregional relapses. Risk factors identification and surgical stagement with SLN biopsy constitute an optimal approach in breast cancer management.

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