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Favourable long-term results after surgical removal of lung metastases of breast cancer

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Abstract

We retrospectively evaluated whether a surgical strategy benefits patients with operable lung metastasis of breast cancer. Between 1960 and 2000, 90 patients (mean age 55.1; range 32–77) with lung metastasis (79 solitary, 11 multiple) underwent surgery as follows: wedge resection (n = 10), segmental resection (n = 11), lobectomy (n = 68) and pneumonectomy (n = 1). The metastases were completely resected in 89% of them. One patient died due to surgical complications. The overall 5- and 10-year cumulative overall survival rates were 54% and 40%, respectively (median, 6.3 years). Fifteen patients survived without relapse for over 10 years. They were 24% of those who progressed for 10 years or more after lung surgery. The most significant prognostic factor was disease-free interval (DFI) and stage at breast surgery. The 10-year survival rates of those with ≧3 and <3 years of DFI were 47% and 26%, respectively (P = 0.014). Survival times were significantly longer for patients with clinical stage I at breast surgery than those with stage II–IV (P = 0.013). Our data, although limited and highly selective, suggest that surgical approach to lung metastasis from breast cancer may prolong survival in certain subgroups of patients to a greater extent than systemic chemotherapy alone. Surgical approach to lung metastasis of breast cancer, if possible, should be a treatment of choice to a great extent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Breast Oncology Group, Cancer Institute Ariake Hospital, Ariake 3-10-6, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan

    Masataka Yoshimoto, Keiichiro Tada, Seiichiro Nishimura, Masujiro Makita, Takuji Iwase & Fujio Kasumi

  2. Department of Chest Surgery, Cancer Institute Ariake Hospital, Ariake 3-10-6, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan

    Sakae Okumura, Yukitoshi Sato & Ken Nakagawa

  3. Breast Center, Mita Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Mita 1-4-3, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8329, Japan

    Masataka Yoshimoto

Authors
  1. Masataka Yoshimoto
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  2. Keiichiro Tada
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  3. Seiichiro Nishimura
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  4. Masujiro Makita
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  5. Takuji Iwase
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  6. Fujio Kasumi
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  7. Sakae Okumura
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  8. Yukitoshi Sato
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  9. Ken Nakagawa
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Correspondence to Masataka Yoshimoto.

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Yoshimoto, M., Tada, K., Nishimura, S. et al. Favourable long-term results after surgical removal of lung metastases of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 110, 485–491 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-007-9747-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-007-9747-9

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