Axillary dissection in the context of the biology of lymph node metastases

BACKGROUND: Modern breast surgery, as the primary treatment of invasive bre ast carcinoma, has been evolving over the last century, Aggressive radical surgery, which included chest wall resection, complete axillary clearance a nd internal mammary node dissection, has slowly changed to a less aggressiv e approach. This has been based on an improved understanding of the biology of the disease. Over the years, randomized prospective trials, performed a t centers all over the world, have demonstrated that axillary dissection do es not impact on the overall survival while it helps with loco-regional con trol of breast cancer, Its major role, at the present time, is limited to s taging and prognostication; functions that are equally well served by the l imited approach of a sentinel node biopsy. SOURCES: This review is based on the available medical literature involving the biology and organ specificity of the metastatic process, not only in b reast cancer but also in other malignancies. In addition, studies pertainin g to clinical breast cancer, and the role of surgery in its treatment, were reviewed. The ongoing trials on the role of sentinel node biopsy in the ma nagement of the clinically node negative patients are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: This review covers the history, pathophysiology, and clinical basis of the current role of axillary dissection for invasive breast cancer . From the data presented we hope that the medical community will agree tha t there is no therapeutic role for extended axillary dissection at the curr ent time. (C) 2000 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.