Conditions: Breast Cancer
Keywords: breast cancer axillary mapping lymphedema
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 39
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This pilot phase I and randomized phase II trial studies the best way to perform axillary lymph node preservation surgery and to see how well it works in preventing lymphedema in patients with breast cancer. Lymph node mapping may help in planning surgery to remove breast cancer and affected lymph nodes. It is not yet known whether reverse mapping guided axillary lymph node dissection is more effective than standard axillary lymph node dissection in preventing lymphedema.

Detailed description:
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To produce a map of the lymphatic drainage of the upper extremity as it relates to breast drainage, to determine the proportion of women undergoing axillary lymphadenectomy at risk for lymphedema. II. To determine if blue lymphatics contain lymph node metastases. III. To evaluate the incidence of lymphedema and associated other surgical related quality of life in those undergoing this procedure as compared to the current standard of care.

OUTLINE: This is a phase I study followed by a randomized phase II study.

PILOT PORTION: Patients receive isosulfan blue dye subcutaneously (SC) and then undergo reverse mapping-guided axillary lymph node dissection.

RANDOMIZED PORTION: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. ARM I: Patients receive isosulfan blue dye subcutaneously (SC) and then undergo reverse mapping-guided axillary lymph node dissection. ARM II: Patients undergo standard axillary lymph node dissection and then receive isosulfan blue dye SC.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up periodically.

Arms:
arm 1: Patients receive isosulfan blue dye SC and then undergo reverse mapping-guided axillary lymph node dissection. arm 2: Patients undergo standard axillary lymph node dissection and then receive isosulfan blue dye SC.

Interventions: intervention 1: axillary lymph node dissection intervention 2: isosulfan blue based lymphatic mapping intervention 3: axillary lymph node dissection intervention 4: quality-of-life assessment intervention 5: Questionnaire administration
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Undergo reverse mapping-guided axillary lymph node dissection intervention 2: None intervention 3: Undergo standard axillary lymph node dissection intervention 4: Ancillary studies intervention 5: Ancillary studies

Protocol document: