FACTORS AFFECTING SENTINEL LYMPH NODE METASTASIS IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER UNDERGOING SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY BEFORE OR AFTER SYSTEMİC THERAPHY

The status of axillary lymph node (ALN) along with clinical and histopathological factors is considered an important prognostic factor in invasive breast cancer. The tendency to spread to SLN may differ depending on the biological, clinical and histopathological features of tumors. If we know the factors that affect SLNM, we may not need to perform SLNB in some groups. The aim of the study was to investigate the factors affecting SLNM in patients who underwent surgery and SLNB before (surgery group) or after (neoadjuvant group) systemic theraphy in the light of current biological characteristics of tumors and patients.

The study included patients who were operated for breast cancer and underwent SLNB in the general surgery clinic of our institute between January 2017 and August 2019. The study included a total of 1,050 patients, 900 patients in the surgery group and 150 patients in the NAC group.

In surgery group, multivariate analyses showed that grade III, LVI, Her2 (+) and TN increases the risk of metastasis. In neoadjuvant therapy group, multivariate analyses showed Pre-NAC clinical findings of LN metastasis and luminal A subtypes as effective factors.

Knowing the factors affecting sentinel lymph node metastasis can provide clues for the type of intervention, reconstruction and RT planning of patients to be operated directly or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.