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Participation in the RACS Sentinel Node Biopsy versus Axillary Clearance Trial
Author(s) -
Wetzig Neil R.,
Gill P. Grantley,
Ung Owen,
Collins John,
Kollias James,
Gillett David,
Gebski Val,
Greig Caroline,
Ray Adam,
Stockler Martin
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2005.03310.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sentinel node , breast cancer , randomized controlled trial , clinical trial , biopsy , axillary dissection , general surgery , surgery , sentinel lymph node , cancer
Background:  The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) SNAC trial is a randomized controlled trial of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) versus axillary clearance (AC). It opened in May 2001 and is recruiting rapidly with good acceptance by consumers. Methods:  A study of eligibility and treatment choices was conducted between November 2001 and September 2002 for women presenting with early breast cancer to 10 centres participating in the trial. Results:  More than half of the 622 women (54%) were ineligible for trial entry because they had large (> 3 cm) or multicentric cancers. Participation was offered to 92% of eligible women and was taken up by 63%. The commonest reason for not participating was the desire to choose treatment rather than have it randomly allocated. Despite this there is a great acceptance of clinical trials because very few women (4% of those eligible) gave ‘lack of interest in clinical trials’ as the reason for non‐participation. Few women who declined trial participation chose to have SNB alone (4.5% of those eligible). Conclusion:  Sentinel node biopsy may become the standard of care for managing small breast cancers, but a significant number of patients will still require or choose axillary dissection. Results from large randomized trials are needed to determine the relative benefits and harms of SNB compared with AC. Surgeons must carefully discuss options for management with their patients.

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