Korean J Clin Oncol.  2018 Jun;14(1):43-47. 10.14216/kjco.18007.

The prognosis factors among breast cancer patients with extensive axillary lymph node metastasis

• Kim JM
• Kim JY
• Jung EJ
• Kwag SJ
• Park JH
• Park T
• Jeong SH
• Jeong CY
• Ju YT
• Lee YJ
• Hong SC

• KMID: 2416321
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14216/kjco.18007

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to retrospectively identify prognostic factors of survival among breast cancer patients with 10 or more metastatic lymph nodes (LNs).
METHODS
The study included 58 patients with 10 or more metastatic LNs who received standard treatment from January 2005 to December 2015. To identify the prognostic factors, we analyzed the difference of disease-free survival (DFS) according to clinicopathologic factors.
RESULTS
The 5-year DFS and overall survival rates in all patients were 55% and 69%, respectively. Tumor size, number of metastatic LNs and ratio of metastatic to total LNs were associated with poorer prognosis. DFS was significantly poorer in patients with >15 than ≤15 metastatic LNs (hazard ratio [HR], 4.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-15.32) and with LN ratio >0.64 than ≤0.64 (HR, 26.13; 95% CI, 3.16-215.80) A scoring system based on these factors was significantly prognostic of survival outcomes.
CONCLUSION
This study identified factors of survival in breast cancer patients with extensive LN metastasis. Patients with unfavorable factors may require modified management to improve their clinical outcomes.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Prognosis; Lymphatic metastasis

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Disease-Free Survival
Humans
Lymph Nodes*
Lymphatic Metastasis
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Prognosis*
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate