Research Progress on Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer remains the most common malignant tumor in women, with its prognosis closely linked to lymph node metastasis. This review summarizes the current research progress on lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, focusing on imaging diagnosis, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB), prognostic factors, and molecular subtypes. Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women. According to the 2018 Statistical Report of the American Cancer Society, there were over 260,000 new cases of breast cancer in 2018, with more than 40,000 deaths attributed to the disease; its overall incidence accounted for 30% of all newly diagnosed tumors in women, showing an upward trend [1]. Reports indicate that the incidence of breast cancer among women in China is comparable to international levels and continues to rise, with approximately 270,000 new cases annually [2]. Since 1990, mortality rates from breast cancer have been declining due to advancements in treatment and early detection methods [3]. It is well established that the prognosis of breast cancer is closely associated with lymph node metastasis [4]. Therefore, evaluating lymph node metastasis and its clinical characteristics holds significant importance for predicting disease prognosis. This article reviews current clinical research progress on breast cancer lymph node metastasis.