title: Prognostic Value of Sterilized Lymph Nodes After Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Patients with ypN0 Rectal Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with ypN0 rectal cancer who have received preoperative chemoradiotherapy can be divided into those who initially were node negative and those whose positive nodes have been sterilized by preoperative therapy. The long-term prognosis for ypN0 patients with sterilized lymph nodes (LNS) is unknown. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of LNS after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for patients with ypN0 rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2007 to March 2014, 206 patients with ypN0 tumors of the mid or lower rectum treated by chemoradiotherapy and radical surgery were enrolled in the study. Of these 206 patients, 49 had ypN0 tumors with LNS (LNS+ group), and 157 had ypN0 tumors without LNS (LNS- group). The patients in both groups were comparable in terms of tumor characteristics, type of chemoradiotherapy, type of surgery, R0 resection rate, and postoperative complication rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up period was 40.5 ± 27 months. The 1- and 3-year OS rates in the LNS+ group were respectively 100 and 95.5% versus 99.4 and 91.6% in the LNS- group (P = 0.549). The 1- and 3-year DFS rates in the LNS+ group were respectively 100 and 94.2% versus 94.7 and 87.1% in the LNS- group (P = 0.117). The multivariate analysis showed that the presence of LNS did not affect OS (P = 0.918) or DFS (P = 0.209).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis is excellent for patients with ypN0 rectal cancer who have LNS after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. The presence of LNS in ypN0 rectal cancer patients after chemoradiotherapy should not be considered a factor for a poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive and Oncologic Surgery, Ambroise Paré Hospital, APHP, UVSQ University, Boulogne, France.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vychnevskaia
authors.affiliation: General Surgical Oncology Department, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ambroise Paré Hospital, APHP, UVSQ University, Boulogne, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Julié
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dartigues
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bicêtre Hospital, APHP, Paris-Sud, University, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lazure
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Medicine, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boige
authors.affiliation: General Surgical Oncology Department, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goéré
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brouquet
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive and Oncologic Surgery, Ambroise Paré Hospital, APHP, UVSQ University, Boulogne, France.
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peschaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. stephane.benoist@bct.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benoist
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D005472:Fluorouracil