Survival of lymph node-negative breast cancer patients in relation to number of lymph nodes examined.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between number of lymph nodes examined and survival of patients diagnosed with node-negative localized breast cancer using a large sample of patients from population-based cancer registries in the United States.


BACKGROUND
Conflicting results have been reported from studies on the relationship between number of lymph nodes examined and survival of patients diagnosed with node-negative localized breast cancer.


METHODS
The study included 69,543 patients diagnosed in 1988-97 with localized invasive node-negative breast cancer reported to nine population-based registries in the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program of population-based cancer registries. Hazard ratios for groups defined by number of nodes examined were analyzed in Cox proportional hazards regression models that included age, tumor size and grade, race/ethnicity, and other variables.


RESULTS
A significantly higher risk of death from breast cancer was found among patients with 0, 1 to 3, or 4 to 10 nodes examined than with 20-plus nodes examined, even among patients with tumors 2 cm or smaller.


CONCLUSIONS
Future studies of survival of node-negative patients, by number of nodes examined, should include information on comorbidity and treatment.
Polednak
Anthony P
AP
Connecticut Tumor Registry, Connecticut Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134-0308, USA. anthony.polednak@po.state.ct.us
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000592:standards*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018426:SEER Program; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States