Summary
We have reviewed the available clinical data on the benefit of axillary treatment in patients with early breast cancer. The results of these studies suggest that perhaps 5–10% of patients are cured by effective axillary treatment. We conclude that effective axillary treatment should still be considered an essential aspect of primary treatment.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Halsted WS: The results of radical operations for the cure of cancer of the breast. Ann Surg 46: 1–19, 1907
Haagensen CD, Stout AD: Carcinoma of the breast: criteria of operability. Ann Surg 118: 859–870, 1932
Huvos AG, Hutter RVP, Berg JW: Significance of axillary macrometastases and micrometastases in mammary cancer. Ann Surg 173: 44–46, 1971
Pickren JW: Significance of occult metastases: a study of breast cancer. Cancer 14: 1266–1271, 1961
Rosen PP, Saigo PE, Braun DW, Weathers E, Fracchia AA, Kinne DW: Axillary micro- and macro-metastases in breast cancer. Ann Surg 194: 585–591, 1981
Fisher B, Montague E: Comparison of radical mastectomy with alternative treatments for primary breast cancer. Cancer 39: 2829–2839, 1977
Fisher B, Wolmark N, Bauer M, Redmond C, Gebhardt M: The accuracy of clinical nodal staging and of limited axillary dissection as a determinant of histologic nodal status in carcinoma of the breast. Surg Gynec Obstet 152: 765–772, 1981
Fisher B, Slack N, Katrych D, Wolmark N: Ten year follow-up results of patients with carcinoma of the breast in a co-operative clinical trial evaluating surgical adjuvant chemotherapy. Surg Gynec Obstet 140: 528–534, 1975
Valagussa P, Bonadonna G, Veronesi U: Patterns of relapse and survival following radical mastectomy. Cancer 41: 1170–1178, 1978
Boag JW, Haybittle JL, Fowler JF, Emery EW: The number of patients required in a clinical trial. Brit J Radiol 44: 122–125, 1971
Hayward J: The surgeon's role in primary breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1: 27–32, 1981
Langlands AO, Prescott RJ, Hamilton T: A clinical trial in the management of operable breast cancer. Brit J Surg 67: 170–174, 1980
Cancer Research Campaign Working Party: Cancer Research Campaign trial for early breast cancer. Lancet II (8185): 55–60, 1980
Haagensen CD: Diseases of the Breast. Revised 2nd Ed. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1971
Auchincloss H: Significance of location and number of axillary metastases in carcinoma of the breast. Ann Surg 158: 37–46, 1963
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harris, J.R., Osteen, R.T. Patients with early breast cancer benefit from effective axillary treatment. Breast Cancer Res Tr 5, 17–21 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01807645
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01807645