Axillary Lymph Node DissectionNCT05939830
Omission of ALND in Breast Cancer Patients With Axillary pCR
A study testing Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy (SrLNB) and Regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI) including the axilla in people with Axillary Lymph Node Dissection and Pathological Complete Response, run by The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This prospective, single-arm, phase II trial studies axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to see if it can be safely omitted in breast cancer patients with axillary pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Axillary Lymph Node Dissection, Pathological Complete Response, Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
- What is being tested?
- Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy (SrLNB) and Regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI) including the axilla
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 92 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 11 Sep 2023to Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Female aged between 18 and 70 years;
- Pathologically confirmed invasive breast cancer (regardless of pathological type) with a clinical stage cT1-3;
- Pathologically confirmed positive axillary lymph nodes with a clinical stage of N1-3;
- Receiving a full course of neoadjuvant therapy (including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, neoadjuvant targeted therapy, neoadjuvant immunotherapy);
- Positive axillary lymph nodes successfully stained by carbon nanoparticles injection;
- All patients are required to undergo immunohistochemical staining for Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Ki- 67 proliferation index, and further fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) should be performed in HER2 2+ cases;
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- Preoperative clinical assessment (including physical examination, imaging, with or without nomogram assessment) suggests positive axillary lymph nodes converted to negative (ycN0);
- ECOG score 0 - 1;
- Patients voluntarily participated in this study and signed the informed consent form
Who cannot join
- Bilateral breast cancer;
- Breast cancer during lactation period or pregnancy;
- Physical examination or imaging examination confirmed presence of distant metastases;
- Previous history of malignant tumor;
- History of previous surgery on the affected axilla; or history of surgery affecting the function of the upper extremity;
- History of radiation therapy to the breast or chest;
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- Positive incision margins for breast-conserving surgery/mastectomy;
- Positive results of intraoperative rapid freeze pathology (including isolated tumor cells and micrometastases) for SrLNB (ypN+);
- Those who unable to complete the full course of follow-up adjuvant therapy as prescribed for various reasons;
- Aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) ≥ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) ≥ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal, total bile ≥ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal; Left Ventricular Ejection Fractions (LVEF) < 50% in cardiac ultrasound;
- Severe coagulation dysfunction, serious systemic disease, or uncontrolled infection;
- Without personal freedom and independent civil capacity;
- Those with mental disorders, addictions, who were not eligible for enrollment in the judgment of the investigator.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Nanjing
Lingjun Ma, +8613186693728, malingjun@stu.njmu.edu.cn
About this study
Official title: Omission of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Breast Cancer Patients With Axillary Pathological Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
This prospective, single-arm, phase II trial studies axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to see if it can be safely omitted in breast cancer patients with axillary pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). Breast cancer patients with biopsy-proven positive axillary lymph nodes at initial diagnosis, and converted to negative after NST, which is confirmed by Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy(SrLNB), will be enrolled in the study. In other words, a total of 92 patients will be exempted from ALND after SrLNB, and afterwards complete regional node irradiation (RNI) including the axilla. They will also undergo adjuvant chemotherapy, targeted therapy, endocrinotherapy after surgery. These patients will be followed up in the next three years for local-regional recurrence and long-time survival outcome.
- Conditions
- Axillary Lymph Node Dissection, Pathological Complete Response, Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy, Breast Cancer, Axillary Lymph
- Being tested
- Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy (SrLNB), Regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI) including the axilla
- Keywords
- Breast Cancer, Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy, Axillary Surgery
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy (SrLNB)Procedure or surgery
Before NST, carbon nanoparticles suspension would be injected into the cortex of positive lymph nodes for staining under ultrasound guidance. Marked lymph nodes will be removed and biopsied after NST.
Regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI) including the axillaRadiation
RNI including the axilla covers the supraclavicular region and entire axillary lymphatic drainage area (region I, II and III) ,and is at a dose of 50 Gy/25 times, with additional prophylactic irradiation of the internal breast lymphatic drainage area for eligible patients.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Omit ALND | Experimental | Omitting Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND) in SrLNB-proven axillary complete response patients.
Finishing regional lymph node irradiation (RNI) including the axilla after surgery. Receives: Procedure: Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy (SrLNB); Radiation: Regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI) including the axilla |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
iDFS: invasive Disease-Free Survival after breast surgery
Time interval from the surgery to invasive local-regional recurrence, distant metastasis, contralateral invasive breast cancer, or death from any cause.
Measured: Up to 3 years after surgery
Secondary outcomes (4)
LRR: Local-Regional Recurrence after breast surgery
This includes both local and regional recurrences. Local recurrence is defined as recurrence in the ipsilateral breast, chest wall, skin or surgical scar. Regional recurrence is defined as recurrence in the affected lymphatic drainage area, including the axilla, supraclavicular region, subclavicular region, and internal mammary node area.
Measured: Up to 3 years after surgery
BCRL: Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema
Objective evaluation of upper limb lymphedema by arm circumference and bioelectrical impedance measurement. In our study, BCRL is diagnosed in two ways:① Relative Volume Change (RVC ) >10% in the affected upper extremity. ②Bioelectrical impedance technology: the impedance ratio is defined as the ratio of the impedance of the healthy upper limb to the impedance of the affected upper limb, and BCRL is diagnosed when the patient's impedance ratio is higher than the mean + 2 standard deviations (SD) of healthy controls. When the two measurements are inconsistent, the former results shall prevail.
Measured: Up to 3 years after surgery
Quality of life (QoL)
Patients' subjective assessment of quality of life (QoL) using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) . FACT-B is divided into 36 items in 5 domains, namely: physical status (7 items), social/family status (7 items), emotional status (6 items), functional status (7 items) and additional concerns, and each item is classified into five levels: not at all (0), somewhat (1), somewhat (2), fairly (3) and very much (4). Positive items were scored directly from 0 to 4, while negative items (i.e., the larger the number of response options, the worse the quality of life) were scored in reverse. The total score of FACT-B scale ranges from 0 to 144, a higher score means a better quality of life for the patient.
Measured: Up to 3 years after surgery
Patient-reported arm morbidity
Patients' subjective assessment of lymphedema using the Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick DASH) questionnaires,Quick DASH consists of 11 items, and is a self-rating scale of daily functioning including social functioning and physical activity and upper extremity symptoms. Each item is divided into 5 levels, and the patient's score is calculated as score = [(patient score/number of response items) - 1] × 25, with a total score of 0 to 100, and the higher the score, the greater the degree of upper limb dysfunction.
Measured: Up to 3 years after surgery
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Jul 2023
- Study start11 Sep 2023
- Primary completionJul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Axillary Lymph Node DissectionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 92 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jue Wang, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05939830
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SrLNB
- Status last verified
- Dec 2024
- First submitted
- 1 Jul 2023
- Last updated
- 30 Dec 2024
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Ma L, Chen R, Wang M, Li X, Zheng R, Wang L, Ding J, Yao H, Gong Y, Wang Y, Sheng X, Wang J, Zha X. Omission of axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer with axillary pathological complete response confirmed by stained region lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (SrLNB study): study protocol for a single-arm, single-centre, phase-II trial. BMJ Open. 2025 Mar 31;15(3):e092563. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092563.
PubMed 40164484
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Dec 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Omission of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Breast Cancer Patients With Axillary Pathological Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05939830
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SrLNB
- Conditions
- Axillary Lymph Node Dissection, Pathological Complete Response, Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy, Breast Cancer, Axillary Lymph
- Keywords
- Breast Cancer, Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy, Axillary Surgery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 92 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This prospective, single-arm, phase II trial studies axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to see if it can be safely omitted in breast cancer patients with axillary pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). Breast cancer patients with biopsy-proven positive axillary lymph nodes at initial diagnosis, and converted to negative after NST, which is confirmed by Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy(SrLNB), will be enrolled in the study. In other words, a total of 92 patients will be exempted from ALND after SrLNB, and afterwards complete regional node irradiation (RNI) including the axilla. They will also undergo adjuvant chemotherapy, targeted therapy, endocrinotherapy after surgery. These patients will be followed up in the next three years for local-regional recurrence and long-time survival outcome.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Omit ALND | Experimental | Procedure: Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy (SrLNB), Radiation: Regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI) including the axillaOmitting Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND) in SrLNB-proven axillary complete response patients. Finishing regional lymph node irradiation (RNI) including the axilla after surgery. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 70 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Female aged between 18 and 70 years;
- Pathologically confirmed invasive breast cancer (regardless of pathological type) with a clinical stage cT1-3;
- Pathologically confirmed positive axillary lymph nodes with a clinical stage of N1-3;
- Receiving a full course of neoadjuvant therapy (including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, neoadjuvant targeted therapy, neoadjuvant immunotherapy);
- Positive axillary lymph nodes successfully stained by carbon nanoparticles injection;
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Bilateral breast cancer;
- Breast cancer during lactation period or pregnancy;
- Physical examination or imaging examination confirmed presence of distant metastases;
- Previous history of malignant tumor;
- History of previous surgery on the affected axilla; or history of surgery affecting the function of the upper extremity;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy (SrLNB)Before NST, carbon nanoparticles suspension would be injected into the cortex of positive lymph nodes for staining under ultrasound guidance. Marked lymph nodes will be removed and biopsied after NST. | Procedure or surgery | Omit ALND |
| Regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI) including the axillaRNI including the axilla covers the supraclavicular region and entire axillary lymphatic drainage area (region I, II and III) ,and is at a dose of 50 Gy/25 times, with additional prophylactic irradiation of the internal breast lymphatic drainage area for eligible patients. | Radiation | Omit ALND |
Primary outcome
iDFS: invasive Disease-Free Survival after breast surgery
Time frame: Up to 3 years after surgery
Time interval from the surgery to invasive local-regional recurrence, distant metastasis, contralateral invasive breast cancer, or death from any cause.
4 secondary outcomes
LRR: Local-Regional Recurrence after breast surgery
Time frame: Up to 3 years after surgery
BCRL: Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema
Time frame: Up to 3 years after surgery
Quality of life (QoL)
Time frame: Up to 3 years after surgery
Patient-reported arm morbidity
Time frame: Up to 3 years after surgery
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Dec 2024.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40164484Ma L, Chen R, Wang M, Li X, Zheng R, Wang L, Ding J, Yao H, Gong Y, Wang Y, Sheng X, Wang J, Zha X. Omission of axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer with axillary pathological complete response confirmed by stained region lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (SrLNB study): study protocol for a single-arm, single-centre, phase-II trial. BMJ Open. 2025 Mar 31;15(3):e092563. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092563.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Stained region Lymph Node Biopsy (SrLNB) and Regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI) including the axilla in people with Axillary Lymph Node Dissection and Pathological Complete Response, run by The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Dec 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jue Wang, MD (+862568306360, wangjue200011@njmu.edu.cn), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
iDFS: invasive Disease-Free Survival after breast surgery (time frame: Up to 3 years after surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05939830, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Dec 2024.