De-escalation of axillary surgery after neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: long-term outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy alone versus complete axillary lymph node dissection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The optimal management of axillary lymph nodes after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) in breast cancer remains controversial. The oncological outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone compared with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after NST are not well established.

Objective

This study comprehensively evaluated the long-term outcomes of SLNB alone versus ALND following NST in breast cancer patients achieving ycN0 status.

Design

A retrospective, multicenter, real-world study.

Methods

Patients initially presenting with clinically node-negative (cN0) or clinically node-positive (cN+) breast cancer who remained or converted to ycN0 after NST (2011-2022) were included. Patients were divided into SLNB-alone and ALND groups. Primary endpoi

SUBMITTER: Chen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12789383 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature