Prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio for gastric cancer patients with less than 15 lymph nodes dissection / 中华胃肠外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio (MLR) for gastric cancer patients with less than 15 lymph nodes dissected.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 610 gastric cancer patients undergoing operation in Tianjin Cancer Hospictal from January 2003 to July 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: <15 lymph nodes dissected group (n=320) and ≥ 15 lymph nodes dissected group (n=290). MLR was classified based on the following intervals: rN1 ≤ 10%, rN2 10%-30%, rN3 30%-60% and rN4 >60%. Survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier method and difference was assessed by Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard regression model. Survival rates were compared between two groups in pN and rN stages respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In <15 nodes group, all the survival differences among various rN stages were not significant (all P>0.05), while in same rN stage, all the survival differences among various pN stages were not significant (all P>0.05). Significant differences of 5-year cumulative survival rates were found between the two groups in pN2 and pN3a stage patients (both P<0.05) while no significant differences were found among different rN stages (all P>0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated rN stage was an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients with <15 lymph nodes dissected (P=0.012, RR=1.617, 95%CI:1.111-2.354).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rN staging system based on MLR can predict the prognosis of gastric cancer patients with less than 15 lymph nodes dissected.</p>