Clinical impact of metastatic lymph node ratio in advanced gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
We examined the prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio (the ratio of the number of metastatic lymph nodes to the number of lymph nodes removed) after curative resection.


METHODS
The results of surgery on 758 patients were assessed by uni-and multi-variate analysis by classifying the metastatic lymph node ratio into 4 categories: 0, <0.1, >0.1 <0.2, >0.2. Furthermore, the rationality and prognostic significance of the lymph node ratio classification as a nodal staging system was compared with the UICC/TNM classification.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis showed that operative method, location of tumor, macroscopic appearance, tumor diameter, depth of invasion, metastatic lymph node ratio, lymphatic invasion and venous invasion significantly affected prognosis. A Cox proportional regression hazard model revealed that macroscopic appearance, tumor diameter, depth of invasion and metastatic lymph node ratio independently influenced prognosis. Among patients with pN2 by the UICC/TNM classification, survival in those with a metastatic lymph node ratio less than 0.1 was significantly better than in those with a higher metastatic lymph node ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
The metastatic lymph node ratio is an independent prognostic factor. Extended lymphadenectomy could increase survival of patients with pN2 gastric cancer by decreasing the metastatic lymph node ratio below 0.1.
Kunisaki
Chikara
C
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan. s0714@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Shimada
Hiroshi
H
Nomura
Masato
M
Matsuda
Goro
G
Otsuka
Yuichi
Y
Ono
Hidetaka
H
Akiyama
Hirotoshi
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis