Prognostic value of nodal micrometastases in patients with cancer of the gastro-oesophageal junction.
OBJECTIVE
Aim of this study was to examine the presence and the prognostic impact of immunohistochemically identified nodal micrometastases in patients with gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) carcinomas.


METHODS
Between January 1988 and December 2000, 148 patients underwent a radical (R0) resection with a two-field lymphadenectomy for a GEJ carcinoma. Specimens of 60 patients in whom conventional haematoxylin and eosin (H & E) examination did not demonstrate lymph-node metastases (pN0) were available for immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis using antibodies AE1/AE3 directed against cytokeratins. Paraffin embedded material of all retrieved lymph nodes in these patients were serially sectioned and analysed by one pathologist after H & E examination for the presence of micrometastases by IHC.


RESULTS
In 60 resection specimens initially staged as pN0 a total of 524 lymph nodes were available for IHC analyses. Micrometastases were detected in 126 out of 524 lymph nodes (24%), corresponding with 18 of the 60 patients (30%) who were upstaged by this technique. Compared with the pN0 group, the disease free survival (DFS) was significantly lower in patients with nodal involvement at IHC (p<0.001). Survival of patients with IHC identified micrometastatic disease was comparable to those with H & E positive lymph nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Micrometastases in regional nodes were detected by cytokeratin-specific IHC in 30% of radical resected GEJ tumours without overt nodal involvement. Their presence conveys a worse prognosis with a significant reduced DFS, suggesting that the finding of micrometastases should be included in the staging system.
Heeren
P A M
PA
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Kelder
W
W
Blondeel
I
I
van Westreenen
H L
HL
Hollema
H
H
Plukker
J Th
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007633:Keratins