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Updates on isolated tumor cells in sentinel lymph nodes?

Page last modified on: November 20, 2008
Question from MAMHOP: Is there any further update regarding the significance of isolated tumor cells found in sentinel node biopsies?
Answer —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: There were several presentations at San Antonio this year on the importance or significance of isolated tumor cells in sentinel lymph nodes. The weight of the evidence suggests that these tumor cells in the lymph nodes do not impact prognosis. Just to clarify: isolated tumor cells are very small collections of tumor cells in a lymph node. These can actually be present in more than one node, or even in several places within one node. But their tiny size classifies them as isolated tumor cells. If this is all that is present in a lymph node, the patient is most correctly considered as having negative lymph nodes. Such classification was supported at this year's San Antonio conference.

On Wednesday, December 19, 2007, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from San Antonio 2007. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions and shared the newest research presented at this year's San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.

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