Lymphadenectomy not always best cancer treatment option: scientist

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/10/28
By: Christie Chen

Taipei, Oct. 28 (CNA) Lymphadenectomy, or the surgical removal of lymph nodes, should be “re-evaluated” as lymph nodes have been found to play an important role in cancer immunotherapy, prominent Japanese scientist Tasuku Honjo said in Taipei on Friday.

The 74-year-old immunologist made the argument during a speech at Taipei Medical University, when he shared the latest findings of his team.

In an interview with CNA after the speech, Honjo said doctors are trained to remove the lymph nodes surrounding a tumor as a precaution against metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.

But there have not been any good clinical studies comparing the condition of patients with and without a lymphadenectomy, especially those receiving immunotherapy treatment, Honjo noted.    [FULL  STORY]