Tumor biology pertaining to metastatic capacity, mechanisms of dissemination, the EMT-MET-process (epithelial–mesenchymal transition) and cancer immunology are some subjects which can be more distinctly investigated. Disadvantages However, the technique is not without drawbacks, particularly when used for melanoma patients. This technique only has therapeutic value in patients with positive nodes. Failure to detect cancer cells in the sentinel node can lead to a false negative result—there may still be cancerous cells in the lymph node basin. In addition, there is no compelling evidence that patients who have a full lymph node dissection as a result of a positive sentinel lymph node result have improved survival compared to those who do not have a full dissection until later in their disease, when the lymph nodes can be felt by a physician. Such patients may be having an unnecessary full dissection, with the attendant risk of lymphedema. History The concept of a sentinel node was first described by Gould et al. 1960 in a patient with cancer of the parotid gland and was implemented clinically on a broad scale by Cabanas in penile cancer. The technique of sentinel node radiolocalization was co-founded by James C. Alex, MD, FACS and David N. Krag MD (University of Vermont Medical Center) and they were the first ones to pioneer this method for the use of cutaneous melanoma, breast cancer, head and neck cancer and Merkel cell carcinoma. Confirmative trials followed soon after. Studies were also conducted at the Moffitt Cancer Center with Charles Cox, MD, Cristina Wofter, MD, Douglas Reintgen, MD and James Norman, MD. Following validation of the sentinel node biopsy technique, a number of randomised controlled trials were initiated to establish whether the technique could safely be used to avoid unnecessary axillary dissection among women with early breast cancer. The first such trial, led by Umberto Veronesi at the European Institute of Oncology, showed that women with breast tumours of 2 cm or less could safely forgo axillary dissection if their sentinel lymph nodes were found to be cancer-free on biopsy. The benefits included less pain, greater arm mobility and less swelling in the arm. See also ALMANAC, Axillary Lymphatic Mapping Against Nodal Axillary Clearance trial References Further reading External links Lymphology Oncology Breast cancer