The aim of this study is to assess whether, omitting further axillary treatment (ALND and ART) for patients with early stage breast cancer and axillary nodal metastases on needle biopsy, who after NACT have no residual cancer in the lymph nodes on sentinel node biopsy, is non-inferior to axillary treatment in terms of disease free survival (DFS) and results in reduced risk of lymphoedema at 5 years.
Age ≥ 18
Male or female
cT1-3N1M0 breast cancer at diagnosis (prior to NACT) as per AJCC 8th edition (see Section 6.4.1)
FNA or core biopsy confirmed axillary nodal metastases at presentation
Bilateral synchronous invasive breast cancer
Sentinel node biopsy prior to NACT
Previous axillary nodal surgery on the same body side as the scheduled targeted sampling
Any previous cancer within last 5 years or concomitant malignancy except