• Moonkyoo Kong and Seong Eon Hong.
• Department of Radiation Oncology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. kongmoonkyoo@khu.ac.kr
• Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev. 2013 Jan 1; 14 (4): 2509-14.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors for supraclavicular lymph node recurrence (SCLR) in N1 breast cancer patients and define a high-risk subgroup who might benefit from supraclavicular nodal radiotherapy (RT).Materials And MethodsFrom January 1995 to December 2009, 113 breast cancer patients with 1 to 3 positive axillary lymph nodes were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or modified radical mastectomy (MRM). RT was given to all patients who received BCS. Among the patients given MRM, those with breast tumors >5 cm in size received RT. Regional nodal irradiation was not applied. Systemic chemotherapy was given to 105 patients (92.9%). Patient data were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed to identify predictive factors for SCLR.ResultsThe median follow-up duration was 6.5 years, with 5- and 10-year actuarial SCLR rates of 9.3% and 11.2%, respectively. Factors associated with SCLR on univariate analysis included histologic grade, number of dissected axillary lymph nodes, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular extension (ECE), and adjuvant chemotherapy. On multivariate analysis, histologic grade and ECE remained significant. The patient group with grade 3 and ECE had a significantly higher rate of SCLR compared with the remainder (5-year SCLR rate; 71.4% vs. 4.0%, p<0.001).ConclusionsHistologic grade and ECE status are significant predictive factors for SCLR. Supraclavicular nodal RT is necessary in N1 breast cancer patients featuring histologic grade 3 and ECE.

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