Marking axillary nodes with 4% carbon microparticle suspension before neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves sentinel node identification rate and axillary staging.

Background And Objectives: Marking positive lymph nodes (LNs) before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) may improve the accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of marking LNs with 4% carbon microparticle suspension (CMS) before NAC and to evaluate if this technique would improve the SLNB identification rate.

Methods: A prospective study of patients with cT1-T4, cN1-N2 breast cancer who underwent US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of suspected LNs and concomitant marking with 4% CMS was performed.

Cancer stem cell markers ALDH1 and CD44+/CD24- phenotype and their prognosis impact in invasive ductal carcinoma.

Breast cancer is a very heterogeneous disease. The intrinsic molecular subtypes can explain the intertumoral heterogeneity and the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis can explain the intratumoral heterogeneity of this kind of tumor. CD44+/CD24- phenotype and ALDH1 expression are the major CSC markers described in invasive breast cancer.

Ethics in sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer: an open question.

The sentinel node concept agrees with the modern principles of surgical oncology in breast cancer, which are related to lymphatic dissection, accurate axillary study, and less traumatic surgery. After publication of many series, it has proven its capacity to correctly stage axilla and select patients who need axillary dissection. The Brazilian Society of Senology established the current norms for its practice.