Nodal Ratios in Node-Positive Breast Cancer—Long-Term Study to Clarify Discrepancy of Role of Supraclavicular and Axillary Regional Radiotherapy

Abstract

This is the first study demonstrating that for patients with > or =10 nodes examined, SART significantly improved the survival for the median and high NR groups but not for the low NR group.

Clinical significance of axillary nodal ratio in stage II/III breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

“…Several studies have compared the nodal ratio with the ANIN in an adjuvant setting. In these studies, the nodal ratio (also described as percentage of involved nodes or ratio) had a better prognostic impact than the ANIN [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Truong et al [12] directly compared the nodal ratio, ANIN, and number of dissected nodes in a retrospective analysis of 543 stage I and II breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive nodes.…”

“…Currently, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for breast cancer is based on the number of involved axillary lymph nodes [10]. However, several studies have suggested that the percentage of involved nodes, or the nodal ratio, may be a superior indicator of axillary tumor burden given the inherent confounding of absolute number of involved nodes (ANIN) [11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

Prognostic Significance of Number of Positive Nodes: A Long-Term Study of One to Two Nodes Versus Three Nodes in Breast Cancer Patients

“…However, the causes of death were documented exactly, including seven deaths from myocardial infarction. The nodal ratio was defined as the absolute number of involved nodes/the number of nodes examined (8). The American Joint Committee on Cancer/ International Union Against Cancer staging system (5th ed.)…”

Postoperative periclavicular radiotherapy in breast cancer patients with 1–3 positive axillary lymph nodes

“…Troung et al [7,40,41]examined 542 patients and found a nodal ratio (NR) > 25% to be an independent prognostic factor for OS, which may therefore represent a selection criteria for PCLNI. The NR has been suggested to provide greater prognostic value than the absolute number of pN+ in the radiotherapeutic management of breast cancer [39,40,49]. In our analysis group, only 4% had a nodal ratio > 25% and, therefore, did not constitute a selection criterion.…”