Long-term tracing and staining of carbon nanoparticles for axillary lymph nodes in patients with locally advanced breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND

The regression of positive nodes in breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate this regression by injecting and tracing carbon nanoparticles (CNs) into the fusion node prior to NAC in patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

Guided by ultrasound, 0.3 mL of CNs suspension was injected in the fusion node prior to NAC in 110 patients with local advanced breast cancer. Then the patients underwent breast surgery and total axillary lymph node dissection following 2-6 cycles of NAC. The distribution by intercostobrachial nerves (ICBN) of positive nodes and black-stained nodes was researched, and the relationship between the distribution and lymphovascular invasion were investigated by response to NAC.

RESULTS

When patients were ranked by response to NAC (from sensitive to resistance), the number of positive nodes increased, as did the proportion of lymphovascular invasion, the number of black-stained nodes decreased. A significantly negative relationship was found between the number of positive nodes and the number of black-stained nodes (p < 0.001). The positive nodes in patients with sensitive consequence followed the rule from under the ICBN to above the ICBN. However, there was counter-example (skip metastasis) in the patients with resistance result.

CONCLUSION

The regression of positive nodes follows the rule from upper to under, inner to outer in the patients with sensitive consequence to NAC. Long-term staining and tracing by CNs might provide an acceptable and feasible technique to investigate the regression of positive nodes, and would be a potential method for NAC-treated patients by using of ICBN.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03355261. Retrospectively registered on November 28, 2017.