Studies evaluating sentinel node biopsy

SNAC 1 - the Sentinel Node Biospy versus Axillary Clearance trial.

This research has established that women with small unifocal breast cancers, the removal of the "sentinel' nodes (ie. the first lymph node/s draining from the region of the breast cancer) may provide accurate information as to whether axillary nodes are involved with cancer or not. 

Sentinel node based management (SMBM) resulted in fewer side effects for women than axillary clearance, but for those women who were found to have involved nodes, SN biopsy missed 5.5%.  Women participating in this trial continued to be followed.

IBCSG Study 23 Trial

This is research which aims to contribute to the question of appropriate management for women who have micrometastases (very tiny/microscopic deposits of cancer spread) found in the sentinel nodes.  This research aims to answer the question of whether these women require axillary clearance or is it safe to manage these women without further surgery?