[News] 2026 Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Meeting

At the 2026 Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Meeting, Martin Heidinger presented results from a preplanned analysis of the TAXIS/OPBC-03 phase 3 trial, which evaluated tailored axillary surgery (TAS) as an alternative to standard axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with node-positive breast cancer. The trial investigated whether reducing axillary tumour burden through a less radical surgical approach, combined with radiotherapy to control residual disease, could lower the significant morbidity associated with full ALND. Currently ALND remains the standard of care after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or upfront surgery, but it carries well-documented risks including lymphoedema and reduced arm function. If confirmed in full publication, positive results from this large international phase 3 study could shift surgical practice toward less invasive management of the axilla in breast cancer patients.