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Major trial tests whether skipping armpit surgery after sentinel node cancer is safe for breast cancer patients

NCT ID NCT02240472

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Karolinska Institutet Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 14, 2026 · Last updated Jul 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial investigates whether breast cancer patients with cancer in 1-2 sentinel lymph nodes can safely avoid additional armpit surgery (axillary clearance). The study compares survival and cancer recurrence in patients who have the extra surgery versus those who do not. The goal is to see if skipping surgery reduces side effects like arm swelling and pain without harming long-term outcomes. Participants are women with early-stage breast cancer and no signs of armpit involvement before surgery.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
omission of axillary clearance (no further armpit surgery after sentinel node biopsy)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that many breast cancer patients can safely avoid extra armpit surgery, reducing side effects like arm swelling and pain without harming survival.
What could go wrong
The trial is large but observational in design, and earlier studies had mixed results. There is a small risk that skipping surgery might increase cancer recurrence in the armpit over the long term.

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 invasive breast carcinoma Lymphatic Metastasis

As listed by the trial registrant

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

BREAST CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Aalborg University Hospital

    Aalborg, Denmark

  • Aarhus University Hospital

    Aarhus, Denmark

  • Akademiska Sjukhuset

    Uppsala, Sweden

  • Athens University Hospital

    Athens, Greece

  • Blekinge sjukhuset

    Karlskrona, Sweden

  • Central Hospital Kristianstad

    Kristianstad, Sweden

  • Gävle sjukhus

    Gävle, Sweden

  • Hallands sjukhus

    Halmstad, Sweden

  • Helsingborg lasarett

    Helsingborg, Sweden

  • Kalmar sjukhus

    Kalmar, Sweden

  • Karlstad sjukhus

    Karlstad, Sweden

  • Karolinska University Hospital

    Stockholm, Sweden

  • Linköping University Hospital

    Linköping, Sweden

  • Länssjukhuset Ryhov

    Jönköping, Sweden

  • Malmö/Lund University Hospital

    Lund, Sweden

  • Odense University Hospital

    Odense, Denmark

  • Randers Regionshospitalet

    Randers, Denmark

  • Regionshospitalet Viborg

    Viborg, Denmark

  • Rigshospitalet

    Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Sahlgrenska University Hospital

    Gothenburg, Sweden

  • Skaraborgs sjukhus

    Skövde/Lidköping, Sweden

  • Southern Gerenal Hospital

    Stockholm, Sweden

  • St. Görans Hospital

    Stockholm, Sweden

  • Sundsvall länssjukhus

    Sundsvall, Sweden

  • Sydvestjysk Sygehus

    Esbjerg, Denmark

  • Sygehus Lillebaelt

    Lillebaelt, Denmark

  • Sygehus Sonderjylland

    Aabenraa, Denmark

  • Uddevalla sjukhus

    Uddevalla, Sweden

  • Umeå University Hospital

    Umeå, Sweden

  • Varbergs sjukhus

    Varberg, Sweden

  • Västervik Hospital

    Västervik, Sweden

  • Västerås Central Hospital

    Västerås, Sweden

  • Örebro University Hospital

    Örebro, Sweden

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