title: Number of negative lymph nodes can predict survival after postmastectomy radiotherapy according to different breast cancer subtypes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prognostic value of the number of negative lymph nodes (NLNs) in breast cancer patients with positive axillary lymph nodes after mastectomy and its predictive value for radiotherapy efficacy of different breast cancer subtypes (BCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 1,260 breast cancer patients with positive axillary lymph nodes who received mastectomy between January 1998 and December 2007 were reviewed. The prognostic impact and predictive value of the number of NLNs with respect to locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up time was 58 months, and 444 patients (35.2%) received postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). Univariate and multivariate Cox survival analysis indicated the number of NLNs was an independent prognostic factor of LRFS, DFS, and OS. Patients with a higher number of NLNs had better survival. PMRT improved the LRFS of patients with ≤ 8 NLNs ( p < 0.001), while failing to improve the LRFS of patients with > 8 NLNs (p = 0.075). In patients with luminal A subtype, PMRT improved the LRFS, DFS, and OS of patients with ≤ 8 NLNs, but in patients with > 8 NLNs only the LRFS was improved. For patients with luminal B subtype, PMRT only improved the LRFS of patients with ≤ 8 NLNs. The number of NLNs had no predictive value for the efficacy with PMRT in Her2+ and triple-negative subtypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of NLNs is a prognostic indicator in patients with node-positive breast cancer, and it can predict the efficacy of PMRT according to different BCS.
authors: 1. Xiamen Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China.
authors: San-Gang
authors: SG
authors: Wu
authors: 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Peng
authors: 3. Xiamen Cancer Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors: Jia-Yuan
authors: JY
authors: Sun
authors: 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors: Feng-Yan
authors: FY
authors: Li
authors: 1. Xiamen Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China.
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Lin
authors: 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors: Huan-Xin
authors: HX
authors: Lin
authors: 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Bao
authors: 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors: Zhen-Yu
authors: ZY
authors: He
keywords: Breast cancer; mastectomy; negative lymph nodes; prognosis; radiotherapy