Breast cancer metastasis burden in sentinel nodes analysed using one-step nucleic acid amplification predicts axillary nodal status.

Background: In breast cancer patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) analysis using one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA), clarity is required as to the risk factors for non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) involvement upon axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). This study aims to identify these factors, including categorising by extent of sentinel node positivity: solitary positive node (solitary), multiple nodes with some positive (multiple incomplete positive), or multiple nodes all of which are positive (multiple all positive).

Methods: We conducted a cohort study using prospectively collected data on 856 SLNBs analysed using OSNA, from patients with cT1-3 clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer.