Spijkenisse

Researchers are studying women with node-positive breast cancer who receive neoadjuvant systemic therapy NST, which includes chemotherapy with or without immunotherapy. The study aims to understand the safety and quality of life effects of using less invasive methods compared to more invasive axillary staging and treatment after NST. This is important because patients whose lymph nodes show no remaining cancer after NST may not benefit from extensive lymph node removal, but more evidence is needed about the safety and impact of less invasive approaches. This multicenter observational study collects detailed information on patients treated with NST for node-positive breast cancer. It gathers data about the cancer, staging methods before and after NST, and treatment details from medical records. Patients complete questionnaires about their quality of life at diagnosis, and then 1 and 5 years later. The study database is maintained by the Netherlands Cancer Registry and aims to inform future treatment guidelines. Participants provide information through patient-reported outcome measures and undergo regular clinical follow-up to monitor disease-free survival, breast cancer-specific survival, overall survival, and rates of cancer recurrence in the lymph nodes over five years. Quality of life is assessed using several validated tools at baseline and during follow-up. The study results will help balance treatment decisions between less and more invasive options and support shared decision making for women with this breast cancer type.