Work

Reclassifying contralateral axillary metastasis: survival benefit of aggressive local therapy challenges stage IV designation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Contralateral axillary metastasis (CAM) is currently staged as M1 (stage IV) breast cancer, guiding treatment towards palliative systemic therapy. However, emerging evidence suggests CAM may behave as a locoregional event, potentially amenable to curative-intent strategies. This study aims to define the prognosis of isolated CAM and evaluate the survival impact of aggressive local therapy. Methods: oligometastatic (M1, n=450) disease. Overall survival (OS) was compared using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression. Within the CAM cohort, we employed propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and multivariable Cox models to compare outcomes between patients receiving curative-intent local therapy (surgery/radiotherapy) versus a systemic therapy-focused approach. Results: The adjusted mortality risk for the CAM cohort was significantly lower than for the M1 cohort (aHR 0.58, 95% CI 0.45-0.74) but higher than for the LABC cohort (aHR 1.18, 95% CI 0.93-1.60). In the PSM analysis, curative-intent therapy was associated with a 51% reduction in mortality risk (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.31-0.78) and a significantly lower 5-year cumulative incidence of locoregional recurrence (12.1% vs. 31.4%, p=0.005). Results were consistent across IPTW and multivariable analyses. Conclusion: Patients with isolated CAM exhibit a prognosis distinct from classic stage IV disease. A curative-intent local treatment strategy is independently associated with significantly improved survival and locoregional control, supporting the re-evaluation of CAM as a clinically regionally treatable entity.

Source: Frontiers in Oncology

DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1748851

Authors: Shanqing Liu, Yong Li, Yan Shen, Qixin Mao, Lianfang Li

Institutions: Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Breast Cancer Treatment Studies

Subfield: Cancer Research

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801