Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors of axillary lymph node metastasis in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Methods: The clinical pathological data of 233 locally advanced breast cancer patients with at least 4 axillary lymph nodes metastasis from April, 2008 to April, 2018 in our hospital were collected retrospectively. The age, molecular type (luminal A/luminal B, HER-2 positive/negative, triple negative), tumor diameter, histological grade and the expression of ER/PR, HER-2, Ki-67 were compared between patients with N₂ and N₃ axillary lymph node metastasis. Results: Of the 233 locally advanced breast cancer patients, 141 patients were in Group N₂ while 92 patients were in Group N₃. The proportions of T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ in N₂ group were 46.1%, 49.6%, 2.8% and 1.4%, respectively, whereas that in N₃ group were 27.2%, 58.7%, 13.0% and 1.1%, respectively. The diameter of tumor was larger in N₃ group than in N₂ group(P=0.002）. There was no statistical difference between Group N₂ and N₃ in terms of age, molecular type, histological grade, ER/PR expression, HER-2 expression and Ki-67 expression (P>0.05). Conclusions: In locally advanced breast cancer, the number of axillary lymph nodes metastasis is correlated significantly with the diameter of tumor (T stage). while no correlations with age, molecular type, histological grade, ER/PR expression, HER-2 expression and Ki-67 expression are found.

Key words: Locally advanced breast cancer, Molecular type, Axillary lymph nodes metastasis, Clinical pathological characteristics