Frequency and Predictors of Axillary Lymph Node Metastases in Iranian Women with Early Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Axillary lymph node metastasis is the most important predictive factor for recurrence risk and<br />survival in patients with invasive breast carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with<br />metastatic involvement of axillary lymph nodes in Iranian women with early breast cancer. Methods: This article reports<br />a retrospective study of 774 patients with T1-T2 breast cancer who underwent resection of the primary tumor and axillary<br />staging by SLNB and/or ALND between 2005 and 2015 at our institution. Results: Of the 774 patients included in this<br />study, 35.5% (275 cases) had axillary lymph node involvement at the time of diagnosis. Factors associated with nodal<br />involvement in univariate analyses were tumor size, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), tumor grade, ER/PR status and<br />HER2 expression. All factors identified with univariate analyses were entered into a multivariate logistic regression<br />model and tumor size (OR= 3.01, CI 2.01–4.49, P <0.001), ER/PR positivity (OR = 1.74, CI 1.1.16–2.62, P = 0.007)<br />and presence of LVI (OR = 3.3.8, CI 2.31–4.95, P <0.001) remained as independent predictors of axillary lymph node<br />involvement .Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of this study suggests that positive hormonal receptor status, LVI<br />and tumor size are predictive factors for ALNM in Iranian women with early breast cancer.