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Prognostic Impact of Lymph Node Retrieval and Ratio in Gastric Cancer: a U.S. Single Center Experience

  • Original Article
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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Introduction

Increased lymph node (LN) retrieval for gastric cancer has been associated with improved overall survival (OS). This study examines the impact of number of examined LN (eLN) and lymph node ratio.

Methods

Patients referred for surgical care of gastric cancer were stratified by number of eLN, positive LNs (LN+), and lymph node ratio (LN+/eLN). Clinicopathologic factors were compared; OS and disease-free survival (DFS) were the primary endpoints.

Results

From 1997 to 2012, 222 patients, median age 67 (range, 17–92) years, were analyzed. Of 220 (99 %) explored, 164 (74 %) underwent resection. Median OS was 22 (range, 0.3–140) months. Perineural and lymphovascular invasion and poor differentiation adversely affected OS, p < 0.05. A median 14 eLN (range, 0–45), with median 1 LN+ (range, 0–31), was observed. There were no OS or DFS differences when comparing the eLN groups. Both OS and DFS were impacted by LN+. Lymph node ratio demonstrated worse median OS with increasing ratio: 49 months (0) to 37 months (0.01–0.2), 27 months (0.21–0.5), and 12 months (>0.5), p < 0.0001. DFS was similar: 35 months (0), decreasing to 22 months (0.01–0.2), 13 months (0.21–0.5), and 7 months (>0.5), p < 0.0001.

Conclusion

Number of eLN did not impact survival, while LN+ adversely affected survival. Lymph node ratio may predict prognosis better than number of eLN or LN+ in gastric cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Joyce Wong, Nadia Saeed, Khaldoun Almhanna, Ravi Shridhar, Sarah Hoffe & Kenneth L. Meredith

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    Shams Rahman & Hui-Yi Lin

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Shams Rahman

Authors
  1. Joyce Wong
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  2. Shams Rahman
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  3. Nadia Saeed
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  4. Hui-Yi Lin
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  5. Khaldoun Almhanna
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  7. Sarah Hoffe
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  8. Kenneth L. Meredith
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Correspondence to Joyce Wong.

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Wong, J., Rahman, S., Saeed, N. et al. Prognostic Impact of Lymph Node Retrieval and Ratio in Gastric Cancer: a U.S. Single Center Experience. J Gastrointest Surg 17, 2059–2066 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-013-2380-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-013-2380-5

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