[Relationship between new TNM classification and the prognosis and biological behavior of gastric cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical value of 1997 TNM classification of gastric cancer.


METHODS
334 cases of gastric cancer with regional lymph node metastasis were used to determine the relationship between new TNM classification and the prognosis and biological behavior compared with old classification (1987).


RESULTS
The 5-year survival rates of the old pN(1), pN(2) were 49.6% and 33.5% respectively; those of the new pN(1), pN(2), pN(3) were 48.5%, 24.1% and 5.6% respectively. There was a highly significant difference in survival in different new pN groups (P < 0.01). The new pN classification was correlated with the depth of cancer invasion, as well as the macroscopic type, growth pattern and serosal type (P < 0.01). Multivariate COX model analysis showed that the new pN classification was the most significant independent prognostic factor.


CONCLUSIONS
The new TNM classification is not only an objective, simple and reproducible system, but also a significant prognostic index for gastric cancer superior to the old classification.
Wang
Z
Z
Department of Oncologic Surgery, Affiliated First Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Xu
H
H
Wang
S
S
Chen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate