The significance of breast cancer lymph node micrometastases

Abstract

The significance of breast cancer lymph node micrometastasis has been addressed by numerous studies. Although the results of these studies are mixed, most of the larger trials strongly suggest that the presence of a lymph node micrometastasis, in the absence of other nodal disease, will have a negative impact on disease free survival and on overall survival. The focus of this article is to analyze the biologic and therapeutic significance of micrometastatic disease in the axillary lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer.