Can a simple biopsy replace major surgery after breast cancer chemo?

NCT ID NCT03255577

Ongoing Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jul 22, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study looks at whether a sentinel lymph node biopsy (a less invasive procedure) can accurately find leftover cancer cells after chemotherapy in women with locally advanced breast cancer. Researchers will compare the biopsy results to the standard full lymph node removal. The goal is to see if the simpler test is reliable enough to guide further treatment decisions.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could confirm that SLNB is a reliable way to check for remaining cancer after chemotherapy, potentially sparing some patients from more extensive lymph node surgery.
What could go wrong: This is an observational study, not a treatment trial, so it won't directly improve outcomes. The false negative rate may still be too high to replace standard lymph node removal in all cases.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BREAST CANCER LOCALLY ADVANCED BREAST CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

BAPTIST ALLIANCE - MCI (Data Collection Only)

Miami, Florida, 33143, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (Consent only and Follow Up)

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack

Commack, New York, 11725, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (Consent only and Follow Up)

Uniondale, New York, 11553, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester

Harrison, New York, 10604, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering at Basking Ridge (Consent and Follow Up)

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States

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