Document Type
Article
Publication Date
May 2007
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
When sentinel node dissection reveals breast cancer metastasis, completion axillary lymph node dissection is ideally performed during the same operation. Intraoperative histologic techniques have low and variable sensitivity. A new intraoperative molecular assay (GeneSearch BLN Assay; Veridex, LLC, Warren, NJ) was evaluated to determine its efficiency in identifying significant sentinel lymph node metastases (>.2 mm).
METHODS:
Positive or negative BLN Assay results generated from fresh 2-mm node slabs were compared with results from conventional histologic evaluation of adjacent fixed tissue slabs.
RESULTS:
In a prospective study of 416 patients at 11 clinical sites, the assay detected 98% of metastases >2 mm and 88% of metastasis greater >.2 mm, results superior to frozen section. Micrometastases were less frequently detected (57%) and assay positive results in nodes found negative by histology were rare (4%).
CONCLUSIONS:
The BLN Assay is properly calibrated for use as a stand alone intraoperative molecular test.
Recommended Citation
Blumencranz, Peter; Whitworth, Pat W.; Deck, Kenneth; Rosenberg, Anne; Reintgen, Douglas; Beitsch, Peter; Chagpar, Anees; Julian, Thomas; Saha, Sukamal; Mamounas, Eleftherios; Giuliano, Armando; and Simmons, Rache, "Sentinel node staging for breast cancer: Intraoperative molecular pathology overcomes conventional histologic sampling errors" (2007). Department of Surgery Faculty Papers. Paper 5.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/surgeryfp/5
Comments
This article has been peer-reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in The American Journal of Surgery 194(4):426-432, October 2007. The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.07.008. Copyright © 2007 Excerpta Medica, Inc.