The Validation of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy After Neo-adjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

July 29, 2021 updated by: National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

The Validation of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy After Neo-adjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients in National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH)

Neoadjuvant or primary systemic treatment is increasingly applied in the treatment of operable breast cancer. Down staging of the primary tumor is one of the important goals of neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment (NCT), thereby permitting breast-conserving treatment without affecting the risk for a local relapse. Complete pathological response (pCR) rates after NCT vary across histological subtypes and can be more than 60% in HER2-positive disease with dual blockade therapy. Down staging of the axilla is also observed in patients initially presenting with metastatic lymph nodes. pCR rates in the axilla vary between 22% and 42% in reported series, again depending on tumor subtype. Omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) can avoid the post-operative morbidity such as lymphedema in the short or long term follow-up.

Metastatic lymph node status is hard to be stated as a pCR in the axilla by using physical examination or imaging such as ultrasonography or tomography after complete NCT. Good response to the axilla lymph node causing the difficulty of tissue proof by using core needle biopsy, though the investigator knew that biopsy stands for the definite tool for the confirmation of the residual disease. One proposed method to decrease the false-negative rate (FNR) is clip placement in the positive node at initial diagnosis with confirmation of clipped node resection at surgery.

The correlation between the axillary lymph node identified on initial axillary ultrasound and the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) identified at surgery has not been fully evaluated. The concordance between percutaneous biopsy and the lymph node resected at the time of SLNB is not 100%. Sometimes, the initial node identified by ultrasound is not one of the SLNs. The impairment of the performance of SLNB might correlated to the alteration of lymphatic flow induced by tissue fibrosis or tumor deposits after NCT.

The investigator hypothesized that the clip placement at diagnosis of node-positive disease with removal of the clipped node during SLNB reduces the FNR of SLNB after NCT. Here, we evaluate how often the lymph node containing the clip placed at percutaneous biopsy before chemotherapy was found at surgery to be one of the SLNs, and how often it was found in the nodes retrieved at ALND. In addition, the investigator report the impact of identification of the clipped node within the SLNs on the FNR of SLNB.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Aim 1: Identify the pathological result of SLN and ALN

Hypothesis:

The lymph node containing the clip placed at percutaneous biopsy before chemotherapy was found at surgery to be one of the SLNs

Method:

This study is a prospective study. 30 patients who will undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy were asked to participate in this study. Informed consent will be given. Clip will be placed over the positive lymph node by surgeon which was proven by fine-needle aspiration cytology. After completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery of the breast and the axilla was executed in the same session. Different surgeons performed the procedure.

The SLNB will be performed by dual tracer (blue dye plus indocyanine green or radioisotope). After remove the SLNs and ALN, detection of the clipped node will be identified under mammography-guided. The clipped lymph node will be marked separately. All of the lymph node will be sent to pathologist for final examination.

Aim 2: Check the feasibility of SLNB after neoadjuvant CT

Hypothesis:

SLNB is feasible after neoadjuvant CT under certain circumstances.

Method:

The primary endpoints used for statistical analysis were the success rate for identifying and selectively removing the clipped node and the correlation of the response observed in the clipped node on pathology with the ALND specimen. The identification rate of the clipped node was analyzed in all patients who underwent surgical removal of the clipped node. Correlation between the pathologic response observed in the clipped node and in the ALND specimen was estimated using false-negative rates, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
      • Tainan, Taiwan, 704
        • National Cheng Kung University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

20 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Groups will be formed of the breast cancer patients who meet the eligible criteria

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥ 20 years.
  • Female
  • Primary breast cancer, not metastasis from other cancer.
  • Histological subtypes: invasive ductal carcinoma.
  • Clinical stage: cT1-3, cN1, cM0.
  • Clip localization over at least one axillary lymph node.
  • After neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). The inclusion criteria and regimens of NCT are followed standard guildline of National Cheng Kung University Hospital.
  • Complete response or partial response after NCT.
  • Written inform consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refuse to join the study.
  • Unable to complete standard regimens of NCT.
  • Metastasis in internal mammary nodes or other distant lymph nodes.
  • Pregnancy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Only
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
clinical tumor stage 1-3 (cT1-3) and nodal stage 1 (cN1) breast cancer patients
Patients who will undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy were asked to participate in this study. Informed consent will be given. Clip will be placed over the positive lymph node by surgeon which was proven by fine-needle aspiration cytology. After completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery of the breast and the axilla was executed in the same session. Different surgeons performed the procedure.
Procedure: SLNB + ALND
Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy will undergo SLNB+ALND to evaluate the feasibility of SLNB

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The impact of clipped lymph node in patients who received SLNB and ALND following neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Time Frame: immediately after the surgery
compare the location of clipped lymph node in SLNB or ALND
immediately after the surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Correlation of the pathologic response observed in the clipped node and SLNB
Time Frame: immediately after the surgery
estimate the accuracy of SLNB by using false-negative rates, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value
immediately after the surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Loh, National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 20, 2021

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2022

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 30, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 29, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 2, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 2, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 29, 2021

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NCKUH SLNB

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings