This is the first report to show that overexpression of breast cancer-associated genes in breast cancer subjects with pathology-negative ALN correlates with traditional indicators of disease prognosis. These interim results provide strong evidence that molecular markers could serve as valid surrogates for the detection of occult micrometastases in ALN. Correlation of real-time RT-PCR analyses with disease-free survival in this patient cohort will help to define the clinical relevance of micrometastatic disease in this patient population.

Previously reported aggressive behavior of this cancer is confirmed in our series.

Recent data suggest a minimum node count of six to seven for inguinal dissection. Of our four dissections, two were above this threshold and there were minimal postoperative complications. Given our limited sample size, future focus should be on increasing the data on this approach to optimize surgical outcomes and oncologic results.

Concepts of the current management of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the extremities in adults are presented. The roles of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy as well as the combination of these modalities are reviewed. The addition of radiation therapy to less than radical surgery has resulted in higher rates of limb preservation and acceptable local control. A multi‐disciplinary approach will help achieve optimal functional results with less morbidity. Treatment of systemic disease is poor with current methods. Innovative uses of existing systemic modalities or new modalities will be important to improve results in the management of these difficult tumors. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The genes in this study panel failed to be predictive of clinical relapse. This may be a function of several factors: the low event rate at 5 years, the particular gene set, the methodology used for detection/analysis or that our original hypothesis was wrong and that the presence of positive marker signal by real-time RT-PCR is not associated with a worsened clinical outcome.