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Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD) in Early-stage Node Positive Breast Cancer

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Lymph Node Metastases
Axillary Metastases
Breast Cancer Female
Early-stage Breast Cancer
Sentinel Lymph Node
Interventions
Procedure: Targeted Axillary Dissection
Diagnostic Test: Ultrasound of the axilla
Registration Number
NCT04671511
Lead Sponsor
Jewish General Hospital
Brief Summary

RATIONALE: It is now standard for most breast cancer patients with 1-2 positive sentinel nodes to avoid completion node dissection when eligibility criteria from the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z0011 trial are met. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recently proposed to extend this indication to patients that present with biopsy proven node positive disease if only 1 or 2 suspicious nodes are found on imaging, these positive nodes are not palpable clinically, and the other eligibility criteria from the Z0011 study are otherwise met. However, this recommendation is based on an expert consensus and no study has yet confirmed the optimal method to stage the axilla in this patient population.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the technical success rate and accuracy of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) and the potential benefits of clipping and removing the biopsy proven node using radioactive seed localisation (RSL) (SNB+RSL = Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD)) in patients with biopsy proven positive nodes, limited nodal disease in imaging and clinically negative axillary examination.

Detailed Description

This is a prospective multicenter study. Patients with T1-2 Breast cancer and clinically negative axilla on palpation, 1-2 suspicious nodes on ultrasound, and a biopsy proven positive node (by core biopsy of fine needle aspiration) will have a radioactive seed (I125) placed in their clipped node before surgery. At the time of surgery, patients that are scheduled for breast conserving surgery or mastectomy will have sentinel node biopsy (SNB) using radioactive dye (Tc99) +/- blue dye as well as retrieval of the clipped node using radioactive seed localisation (RSL). Removal of the I125 radioactive seed in the clipped node will be performed before the Tc99 counts are performed to prevent "shine through" and biased measurements. Imaging of the surgical specimen will confirm retrieval of the clipped node. Prospectively recorded information on pre-operative axillary imaging, characteristics of the retrieved nodes in the operating room and detailed pathological analysis of each corresponding node will be performed. Completion node dissection (CND) is not mandatory in this study but recommended if the clipped positive node is not retrieved, if 4 nodes or more are positive or if 3 nodes are positive in the absence of axillary radiation. The benefits of adding RSL to SNB and the benefits of adding SNB to RSL staging of the axilla will be evaluated in this study and will help to better define the value of using TAD in this patient population.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
98
Inclusion Criteria
  • Participants must be ≥ 18 years old.
  • Participants with a clinical T1 or T2 invasive ductal or lobular breast carcinoma, regardless of estrogen/progesterone/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptor status.
  • Participants with clinical (on palpation) N0 and up to two suspicious lymph nodes on axillary ultrasound.
  • Participant with biopsy-proven positive axillary disease made by core needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration.
  • Participants must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Scale of Performance Status less than 2.
  • Participants must understand, accept, and have signed the approved consent form.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Participant with previous ipsilateral axillary surgery, including sentinel lymph node biopsy.
  • Participants with distant metastases.
  • Participants that have had previous radiotherapy to the axillary nodes.
  • Participants who received neoadjuvant therapy.
  • If the injection of blue dye is planned, patients with hypersensitivity or allergy to isosulfan blue, patent blue, methylene blue or radiocolloid dye.
  • Participants who are unable to provide informed consent.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Targeted Axillary DissectionTargeted Axillary DissectionUltrasound of the axilla preoperative. Clipped biopsy proven positive node. I125 radioactive seed before surgery. Sentinel node biopsy using Tc99 +/- blue dye. Targeted Axillary Node Dissection performed at surgery
Targeted Axillary DissectionUltrasound of the axillaUltrasound of the axilla preoperative. Clipped biopsy proven positive node. I125 radioactive seed before surgery. Sentinel node biopsy using Tc99 +/- blue dye. Targeted Axillary Node Dissection performed at surgery
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reduction in recommended completion node dissection rate (CND) with the use of Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD) vs. Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) alone.1 month

Recommended completion node dissection rate (CND) = false negative rate (FNR) + technical failure rate (TFR).

TAD CND (TAD FNR + TAD TFR) vs. SNB CND (SNB FNR + SNB TFR)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
False negative rate (FNR) of Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD)1 month

Percentage of patients with successful removal of at least one node (using this method) where at least one positive node was not retrieved (using this method)

Technical failure rate (TFR) of Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD)1 month

Percentage of patients with unsuccessful removal of at least one node using this method, including the clipped node

False negative rate (FNR) of Radioactive Seed Localisation (RSL)1 month

Percentage of patients with successful removal of at least one node (using this method) where at least one positive node was not retrieved (using this method)

Technical failure rate (TFR) of Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB)1 month

Percentage of patients with unsuccessful removal of at least one node using this method (clipped node or not)

Identification rate of patients with three or more positive nodes using only radioactive seed localisation (RSL) vs. Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD)1 month

Evaluate if the addition of SNB to RSL improves the ability to identify patients with 3+ positive nodes that do not otherwise meet the ACOSOG Z0011 criteria and require further regional axillary therapy

Technical failure rate (TFR) of Radioactive Seed Localisation (RSL)1 month

Percentage of patients with unsuccessful removal of at least one node using this method, including the clipped node

False negative rate (FNR) of Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB)1 month

Percentage of patients with successful removal of at least one node (using this method) where at least one positive node was not retrieved (using this method)

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Jewish General Hospital

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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