Influence of Isolated Tumor Cells in Sentinel Nodes on Outcome in Small, Node-Negative (pT1N0M0) Breast Cancer

Purpose To evaluate the prognostic significance of isolated tumor cells found on sentinel node biopsy. Methods The study is based on a prospectively followed up cohort of 1,865 consecutive patients diagnosed with pT1 (tumor size ≤20 mm) breast cancer in one university breast unit between February 2001 and August 2005. Of the 1,390 patients who received no neoadjuvant therapy and who underwent sentinel node biopsy, 63 had isolated tumor cells in the sentinel nodes (stage pT1N0i + M0, verified by axillary node dissection) and 868 did not (pT1N0i − M0). Median follow-up time was 55 months. Results Patients with pN0i+ disease received systemic adjuvant therapies more often than those with pN0i− disease (87 versus 51%; P