[Clinical features and prognostic factors of small breast cancer with multiple axillary lymph node metastasis].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the clinical features and prognostic factors of small breast cancer patient (T < or =2 cm) with multiple axillary lymph node metastasis (N > or =4).


METHODS
The data of 118 small breast cancer patients (T < or =2 cm) with multiple axillary lymph node metastasis (N > or =4) surgically treated from 1993 to 2003 were retrospectively analysed by SPSS 13.0 software.


RESULTS
The overall 5-year survival rate was 75.0% in this series. It was found by single-variant Kaplan-Merier analysis that the stage, adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant endocrine therapy significantly influenced the outcome of the patients. For patients with 4-9 or > or =10 metastatic axillary lymph nodes, the 5-year OS was 89.5% and 59.8%, respectively (P = 0.009). It was 82.1% and 53.3% in the patients with or without adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.001), respectively. For patients with or without adjuvant endocrine therapy, the 5-year OS was 89.2% and 61.9% (P = 0.001). Multi-variant Cox regression analysis showed that the stage, adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant endocrine therapy were independent prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Small breast cancer with multiple axillary lymph node metastasis usually has a tendency of metastasis with a poor prognosis, especially in those with > or =10 metastatic axillary lymph nodes. The stage, adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant endocrinetherapy were independent prognostic factors. Reasonable multi-modality therapy may be able to improve the outcome of these patients.
Liao
Yu-qian
YQ
Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital (Institute), Chinese Acadamy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Xu
Bing-he
BH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult