Prognostic factors on overall survival in lymph node negative gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection.
OBJECTIVE
To assess independent prognostic factors for lymph node-negative metastatic gastric cancer patients following curative resection is valuable for more effective follow-up strategies.


METHODS
Among 1,874 gastric cancer patients who received curative resection, 967 patients were lymph node-negative. Independent prognostic factors for overall survival in lymph node-negative gastric cancer patients grouped by tumor invasion depth (early gastric cancer versus advanced gastric cancer) were explored with univariate and multivariate analyses.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in the distribution of recurrence pattern between lymph node-negative and lymph node-positive group. In the lymph node-negative group, the recurrence pattern differed by the depth of tumor invasion. In univariate analysis for overall survival of the early gastric cancer group, age, macroscopic appearance, histologic type, venous invasion, lymphatic invasion, and carcinoembryonic antigen level were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis for these factors showed that venous invasion (hazard ratio, 6.695), age (≥59, hazard ratio, 2.882), and carcinoembryonic antigen level (≥5 ng/dl, hazard ratio, 3.938) were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis of advanced gastric cancer group showed that depth of tumor invasion (T2 versus T3, hazard ratio, 2.809), and age (hazard ratio, 2.319) were prognostic factors on overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our results, independent prognostic factors such as venous permeation, carcinoembryonic antigen level, and age, depth of tumor invasion on overall survival were different between early gastric cancer and advanced gastric cancer group in lymph node-negative gastric cancer patients. Therefore, we are confident that our results will contribute to planning follow-up strategies.
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Ji Yun
JY
Jeong
Min Gyu
MG
Kim
Tae Kyung
TK
Ha
Sung Joon
SJ
Kwon
Gastric cancer; Lymph node negative; Overall survival; Prognostic factor