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Positive Lymph Node Ratio as an Indicator of Prognosis and Local Tumor Clearance in N3 Gastric Cancer

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Nodal metastasis is an important clinical issue in gastric cancer patients. This study was designed to investigate the clinical usefulness of the positive lymph node ratio (PLNR), which reflects both metastatic and retrieved lymph node numbers, in patients with pN3 gastric cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 138 consecutive pN3 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy from 2000 to 2012.

Results

A PLNR of 0.4 was proved to be the best cutoff value to stratify the prognosis of patients with pN3 gastric cancer (P < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that older age, larger tumor size (≥10 cm), and PLNR ≥ 0.4 [P < 0.001, HR 3.1 (95 % CI 1.7–5.4)] were independent prognostic factors in pN3 gastric cancer. Regarding the recurrence, patients with PLNR <0.4 had a significantly lower rate of lymph node recurrence than those with PLNR ≥0.4 (P = 0.020). There was no significant difference in the lymph node recurrence rate between N3a and N3b patients in the PLNR <0.4 group [P = 0.546, 11.6 % (7/60) vs. 12.5 (1/8)], indicating a better local control regardless of pN3 subgroups.

Conclusions

PLNR is useful to stratify the prognosis and evaluate the extent of local tumor clearance in pN3 gastric cancer.

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Authors’ contributions

Shuhei Komatsu, Daisuke Ichikawa, Mahito Miyamae, Toshiyuki Kosuga, Kazuma Okamoto, Tomohiro Arita, Hirotaka Konishi, Ryo Morimura, Yasutoshi Murayama, Atsushi Shiozaki, Yoshiaki Kuriu, Hisashi Ikoma, Masayoshi Nakanishi, Hitoshi Fujiwara, and Eigo Otsuji performed the research and analyzed data, and Shuhei Komatsu wrote the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachihirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan

    Shuhei Komatsu, Daisuke Ichikawa, Mahito Miyamae, Toshiyuki Kosuga, Kazuma Okamoto, Tomohiro Arita, Hirotaka Konishi, Ryo Morimura, Yasutoshi Murayama, Atsushi Shiozaki, Yoshiaki Kuriu, Hisashi Ikoma, Masayoshi Nakanishi, Hitoshi Fujiwara & Eigo Otsuji

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  1. Shuhei Komatsu
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  2. Daisuke Ichikawa
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  3. Mahito Miyamae
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  4. Toshiyuki Kosuga
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  12. Hisashi Ikoma
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  13. Masayoshi Nakanishi
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  14. Hitoshi Fujiwara
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  15. Eigo Otsuji
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuhei Komatsu.

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Komatsu, S., Ichikawa, D., Miyamae, M. et al. Positive Lymph Node Ratio as an Indicator of Prognosis and Local Tumor Clearance in N3 Gastric Cancer. J Gastrointest Surg 20, 1565–1571 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-016-3197-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-016-3197-9

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