To explore the risk factors for recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer after modified radical mastectomy.

The clinical data of 155 breast cancer patients underwent modified radical mastectomy in three hospitals from March 2014 to September 2015 were analyzed retrospectively According to the follow-up results, there were 49 patients with recurrence and metastasis, while 106 patients with no recurrence and metastasis. Statistical analysis were performed by using SPSS22.0 software.The univariate analysis of postoperative recurrence and metastasis was performed by using χ² test, while Logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis. A P value of<0.05 was considered as statistically significant difference.

The rate of tumor recurrence and metastasis was 31.6% (49/155) among the 155 patients underwent modified radical mastectomy, including 11 patients with local recurrence and 38 patients with distant metastasis. The factors in univariate analysis that were significantly associated with postoperative recurrence and metastasis were analyzed by Logistic regression. In terms of vascular cancer thrombus, primary tumor diameter of ≥5 cm, axillary lymph nodes metastasis of ≥4, TNM staging for Ⅲ, the histologic grading Ⅲ and negative hormone receptor (ER, PR) were considered as independent risk factors for recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer patients after modified radical mastectomy(P<0.05), while anthracycline combined with plethycline chemotherapy, postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and endocrine therapy were protective factors for recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer (P<0.05).

Independent risk factors for breast cancer recurrence and metastasis after modified radical mastectomy including vascular cancer thrombus, the diameter of primary tumor, the number of axillary lymph node metastasis, TNM staging, histological grade and hormone receptor status. A comprehensive prevention and therapeutic treatment based on the above factors might reduce the risk of recurrence and metastasis and could improve the patients’ prognosis.