Tools
ToolsFairhurst, K. and McIntosh, S. A. and on behalf of Our Citable Collaborators (2024) Current axillary management of patients with early breast cancer and low-volume nodal disease undergoing primary surgery: Results of a United Kingdom national practice survey. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 206 (3). pp. 465-471. ISSN 0167-6806
Preview |
PDF (Fairhurst_etal_2024_BCRT)
- Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (535kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Purpose: UK NICE guidelines recommend axillary node clearance (ANC) should be performed in all patients with biopsy-proven node-positive breast cancer having primary surgery. There is, however, increasing evidence such extensive surgery may not always be necessary. Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) may be an effective alternative in patients with low-volume nodal disease who are clinically node negative (cN0) but have abnormal nodes detected radiologically. This survey aimed to explore current management of this group to inform feasibility of a future trial. Methods: An online survey was developed to explore current UK management of patients with low-volume axillary disease and attitudes to a future trial. The survey was distributed via breast surgery professional associations and social media from September to November 2022. One survey was completed per unit and simple descriptive statistics used to summarise the results. Results: 51 UK breast units completed the survey of whom 78.5% (n = 40) reported performing ANC for all patients with biopsy-proven axillary nodal disease having primary surgery. Only 15.7% of units currently performed TAD either routinely (n = 6, 11.8%) or selectively (n = 2, 3.9%). There was significant uncertainty (83.7%, n = 36/43) about the optimal surgical management of these patients. Two-thirds (n = 27/42) of units felt an RCT comparing TAD and ANC would be feasible. Conclusions: ANC remains standard of care for patients with low-volume node-positive breast cancer having primary surgery in the UK, but considerable uncertainty exists regarding optimal management of this group. This survey suggests an RCT comparing the outcomes of TAD and ANC may be feasible.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Data availability: The datasets generated and analysed during this study are stored under the provisions of the National Data Protection Act and the University of Bristol requirements. Data may be made available to bona fida researchers only, on reasonable request to the corresponding author, after their host institution has signed a Data Access Agreement. Funding information: This work was supported by an NIHR Academic Clinical Lectureship (CL-2020-25-002) for Katherine Fairhurst. Shelley Potter is an NIHR Clinician Scientist (CS-2016-16-019). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the UK National Health Service or National Institute for Health and Care Research. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | axillary node clearance,breast cancer,low volume nodal disease,targeted axillary dissection,trial feasibility,oncology,cancer research ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2730 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Apr 2025 08:30 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Apr 2025 08:30 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/98915 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10549-024-07328-4 |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |