ObjectiveTo explore influence of molecular classification of breast cancer on surgical treatment of axillary lymph nodes. MethodThe related literatures which discussed the relation between molecular classification and axillary lymph node metastasis were reviewed and analyzed. ResultsThe triple negative breast cancer had a lower rate of sentinel lymph node or non-sentinel lymph node metastasis. The axillary lymph node metastasis rate was higher in the luminal B or HER-2 overexpression subtypes. Especially, luminal B subtype had a higher risk of sentinel lymph node or non-sentinel lymph node metastasis as compared with the other subtypes. Elderly patients with breast conserving operation could be free for axillary lymph node dissection when only 1-2 sentinel lymph node metastases. There was still a positive possibility of non-sentinel lymph node for younger patients with a larger tumor size, even if the sentinel lymph node negative, the lymph node dissection may benefit these patients. ConclusionBreast cancer molecular classification should be considered for the surgery selection of axillary lymph node dissection.