A new molecular-based lymph node staging classification determines the prognosis of breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND: The one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) assay is a novel molecular method that can detect metastasis in a whole lymph node based on cytokeratin 19 mRNA copy number. This cohort study aimed to establish an OSNA-based nodal staging (pN(mol)) classification for breast cancer. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 1039 breast cancer patients who underwent sentinel node (SN) biopsy using the OSNA assay. Cutoff value of the SN tumour burden stratifying distant disease-free survival (DDFS) was determined, and predictive factors for DDFS and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were investigated. pN(mol) classification of the SN status was defined as: pN0(mol)(sn), SN negative; pN1mi(mol)(sn), SN positive and tumour burden <cutoff-value; and pN1(mol)(sn), tumour burden ⩾cutoff-value. Median follow-up time; 68.3 months. RESULTS: Cutoff value of the SN tumour burden was 2810 copies per μl. Of the 1039 patients, 798, 95, and 146 had pN0(mol)(sn), pN1mi(mol)(sn), and pN1(mol)(sn) status, respectively. Five-year DDFS and BCSS rates were lower for pN1(mol)(sn) patients than for pN1mi(mol)(sn) patients (87.7% vs 98.8%, P=0.001 and 93.1% vs 98.8%, P=0.044, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed the pN(mol) classification was most significant predictor for DDFS and BCSS. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular-based pN classification determines the prognosis of breast cancer patients and could guide therapeutic decision making.