三种淋巴结分期方法对结直肠癌患者预后准确性的研究进展

淋巴结转移是结直肠癌（colorectal cancer，CRC）的主要转移方式之一，也是影响患者预后的重要因素。为了对结直肠癌患者的预后进行准确评估以及制定最佳的治疗方案，需要对患者进行准确的分期。目前主要存在三种淋巴结分期方法即AJCC/UICC的N分期、阳性淋巴结比率（positive lymph node ratio,LNR）和阳性淋巴结对数比率（log odds of positive lymph nodes,LODDS）分期。现对三种淋巴结分期方法的研究进展进行综述。     

结直肠癌临床病理分期与预后的关系

结直肠癌的预后受诸多因素的影响,其中TNM分期是最为重要的因素。TNM分期的提出是根据肿瘤发展的生物学规律总结出来的,而大宗的临床统计分析数据促成了TNM分期的不断完善和更新。文章就新近的几个大宗临床荟萃分析结果作一综述,阐述结直肠癌TNM分期与预后的关系。     

淋巴结转移率对结直肠癌患者预后评估的价值

目的 探讨淋巴结转移率(MLR)在结直肠癌患者预后评估中的临床应用价值.方法 回顾303例手术治疗的结直肠癌患者的临床资料,分析MLR和淋巴结转移数目与清扫淋巴结总数的相关性,以及影响结直肠癌患者预后的因素,探讨MLR预测结直肠癌患者术后5年生存情况的准确性,并与淋巴结转移数目的 预测结果 进行比较.结果 MLR与清扫淋巴结总数无相关性(r=-0.099,P＞0.05),而淋巴结转移数目与清扫淋巴结总数有相关性(r=0.107,P＜0.05).Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示,即使受检淋巴结总数＜12枚,MLR仍影响患者术后生存时间(X2=42.878,P＜0.01).rN0、rN1、rN2和rN3期患者的5年生存率分别为90.9%、68.9%、54.7%和39.4%,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).多因素分析显示,肿瘤大小和rN分期是影响结直肠癌患者预后的独立危险因素.通过比较相对危险度,独立危险因素与预后的密切程度依次为rN分期＞肿瘤大小.MLR和淋巴结转移数目预测结直肠癌患者术后5年生存的ROC曲线下面积比较,差异无统计学意义.结论 结直肠癌患者的MLR与清扫淋巴结总数不相关;MLR是结直肠癌患者预后的主要独立危险因素;MLR预测结直肠癌患者术后5年生存情况的准确性与淋巴结转移数目的 预测能力相同.     

三种淋巴结分期方法预测Ⅲ期直肠癌预后价值的比较

目的:评价以淋巴结转移数目、淋巴结转移率(LNR)和阳性淋巴结对数比(LODDS)为基础的pN分期、LNR分期和LODDS分期预测Ⅲ期直肠癌患者预后的价值。方法:回顾性分析徐州医科大学附属医院2011年至2015年249例接受直肠癌根治手术、病理确诊为Ⅲ期直肠癌患者的临床资料。采用Kaplan-Meier法和多因素Cox比例风险模型分析影响患者预后的独立危险因素,采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线比较pN、LNR和LODDS分期对患者5年生存预测的价值。结果:全组患者术后1、3、5年生存率分别为89.16％、73.90％和54.62％。Cox多因素分析显示LODDS分期是影响Ⅲ期直肠癌患者预后的独立危险因素(P<0.05)。pN分期、LNR分期和 LODDS分期预测患者预后所对应的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.683、0.769和0.778,但差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。结论:LODDS分期是影响Ⅲ期直肠癌患者预后的独立危险因素,LODDS分期对直肠癌患者预后的预测价值优于以pN分期为基础的TNM分期。     

淋巴结比率对胃癌患者的预后价值分析

目的探讨淋巴结比率对于评价胃癌患者预后的临床价值。方法回顾性分析2007年到2009年期间在河南大学第一附属医院108例行根治性胃癌切除术后患者的临床病理及随访资料。受试者工作特性曲线计算淋巴结比率LNR(阳性淋巴结数目/清扫淋巴结总数)的截点值并分组,分析LNR与临床病理参数的关系,及其与清扫淋巴结总数、转移淋巴结数之间的相关性。单因素和多因素分析胃癌患者预后的影响因素。结果年龄(P=0.03)、肿瘤直径(P<0.001)、肿瘤分化程度(P=0.013)、肿瘤浸润深度(T分期)(P<0.001),转移淋巴结(N分期)(P<0.001)和TNM分期(P<0.001)与LNR有显著相关性。LNR与阳性淋巴结数有显著相关性(r=0.88,P<0.001),与清扫淋巴结总数无相关性(r=0.08,P=0.408)。单因素分析显示肿瘤大小、T、N、TNM分期、LNR影响胃癌患者预后,Cox回归模型提示,肿瘤大小、TNM分期、LNR是胃癌患者的独立预后因素。结论 LNR可用来评价胃癌患者预后,其与清扫淋巴结数量无明显相关性。     

淋巴结转移阳性比率在预测T_3期胃癌患者预后中的价值

背景与目的:现有的TNM分期以转移淋巴结数作为淋巴结分期的标准,故对清扫的淋巴结数目有要求的同时,也可能因淋巴结清扫范围的不同而产生分期偏移.本研究将探讨淋巴结转移阳性比率在预测T3期胃癌患者预后中的应用价值.方法:回顾性分析273例接受胃癌D2根治手术且淋巴结清扫总数≥15枚的T3期胃癌患者的临床资料,分析淋巴结转移阳性比率及淋巴结转移阳性枚数与清扫的淋巴结总数间的相关性及淋巴结转移阳性比率在预测T3期胃癌患者预后中的价值.结果:当清扫的淋巴结≥15枚时,淋巴结转移阳性比率的高低与检出的淋巴结总数无相关性(r=0.069,P0.05),而淋巴结转移阳性枚数与检出的淋巴结总数具有相关性(r=0.237,P<0.05).单因素分析发现淋巴结转移阳性比率影响T3期胃癌患者预后(Log-rankχ2=92.414,P<0.01),多因素分析显示淋巴结转移阳性比率是影响T3期胃癌患者预后的独立因素之一.淋巴结转移阳性比率预测T3期胃癌患者预后的ROC曲线下面积与淋巴结转移阳性枚数预测结果的差异无显著性(P0.01).结论:淋巴结转移阳性比率是影响T3期胃癌患者预后的独立因素;在淋巴结清扫范围足够的情况下,淋巴结转移阳性比率预测T3期胃癌患者预后的准确性与淋巴结转移阳性枚数的预测能力相当,在预测T3N3期胃癌预后方面,淋巴结转移阳性比率较淋巴结转移阳性个数更为准确、客观.     

癌结节与结直肠癌患者临床病理因素及预后关系的研究

  目的  分析结直肠癌中与癌结节（tumor deposits,TD）状态及数目相关的临床病理因素,探讨与验证第8版TNM分期中TD分期方法的合理性。  方法  回顾性分析2013年8月至2017年12月于西南医科大学附属医院行根治术的结直肠癌患者病例资料,对患者生存情况进行随访,分析不同TD状态及数目下各临床病理因素的分布差异及预后区别,并从预后的角度验证第8版TNM分期中TD分期方法的合理性。  结果  T分期是TD发生的独立危险因素,肿瘤分化程度是TD数目的独立危险因素。TD阴性组预后优于TD阳性组,差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.001）。生存曲线随着TD数目的增加而逐渐降低（P < 0.05）,但TD=2组与TD=3组间生存曲线差异无统计学意义（P=0.186）。依据cutoff值将TD分为TD=1、TD=2~3与TD ≥ 4具有明显预后差异的三组。同属于ⅢB期的T3~4aN1c期与T3~4aN1a/1b期预后不同（P=0.022）。相同数量TD与区域淋巴结转移预后不完全相同。  结论  结直肠癌合并TD提示预后不良。不同TD数目对预后的影响不同,TD=1、TD=2~3及TD ≥ 4是三个可能的分层标准。第8版TNM分期中的TD分期方法可能不甚合理。      

癌结节与结直肠癌临床分期及预后关系的研究进展

结直肠癌严重威胁人类健康,近年来,结直肠癌中癌结节（tumor deposit,TD）对预后不良的影响越来越受到关注。癌结节指位于结直肠癌周围脂肪组织中,组织学证实无残余淋巴结组织的病灶。目前,关于癌结节的定义、来源、预后特点、临床特征及其在TNM分期系统中的定位等问题,尚存有争议。本文对癌结节与结直肠癌关系的研究进展做一综述,对上述争议问题加以探讨。     

结直肠癌美国癌症联合会TNM分期第5、6版与第7版的差异及预后分析和比较

目的 比较结直肠癌AJCC分期第5、6版和第7版对患者生存时间预后评估的差异,评价新的结直肠癌美国癌症联合会TNM分期标准的临床应用价值。方法 回顾性分析1995-2007年在天津市人民医院接受治疗并具有完整临床病理资料的3 671例患者,以三版分期标准比较其预后情况。结果 结直肠癌第7版AJCC分期在T、N、M分期方面均进行了调整,与第5、6版相比,分期标准更为精细化,可以更好地对不同临床结果的患者进行区分。结论 与第5、6版相比,第7版分期标准更为合理,精确,但其具体临床价值仍有待进一步探索。     

基于SEER数据库回顾性分析老年结直肠癌伴淋巴结转移患者的预后

目的 探讨影响老年结直肠癌伴淋巴结转移患者预后的相关因素.方法 利用SEER*Stat软件筛选监测、流行病学和最终结果(Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results,SEER)数据库符合要求的老年结直肠癌伴淋巴结转移患者临床资料,提取包括年龄、性别、检出淋巴结数(examined ...     

Prognostic value of lymph node metastases and lymph node ratio in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Aims

Although the positive lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma carcinoma (SCC) has been reported to be a risk factor to reduce long-term survival, only a few studies have so far evaluated the lymph node metastasis among this group of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of lymph node positivity and ratio on survival of esophageal SCC.

Methods

All patients undergoing esophagectomy at the Forth Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 1986 and December 2002 were reviewed. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

Of 1325 patients with invasive cancer, had squamous cell cancer of the esophagus. Median overall survival (OS) of the entire group was 36.7 months and 5-year OS was 39.3%. The most significant prognostic factor for overall survival was the presence of positive LN (P < 0.01). Additionally, patients with zero involved LN had a 5-year survival of 49.1%, while patients with 1–3 positive LN and >3 positive LN had 5-year survival of 19.5% and 11.0%, respectively (P < 0.01). Finally, an increasing ratio of positive to examined LN was linearly associated with a worsening 5-year survival, patients with <25%, 25%–50% and >50% positive LN had 5-year survival of 47.53%, 14.6% and 8.9%, respectively (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Increasing number of positive LN in patients with esophageal cancer and increasing ratio of metastatic to examine LN portend a poor prognosis. These factors should play an important role in predicting prognosis of patients.     

Prognostic value of lymph node ratio in node-positive breast cancer in Egyptian patients

BackgroundBreast cancer in Egypt is the most common cancer among women and is the leading cause of cancer mortality. Traditionally, axillary lymph node involvement is considered among the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer. Nonetheless, accumulating evidence suggests that axillary lymph node ratio should be considered as an alternative to classical pN classification.Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients with operable node-positive breast cancer, to investigate the prognostic significance of axillary lymph node ratio.ResultsFive-hundred patients were considered eligible for the analysis. Median follow-up was 35 months (95% CI 32–37 months), the median disease-free survival (DFS) was 49 months (95% CI, 46.4–52.2 months). The classification of patients based on pN staging system failed to prognosticate DFS in the multivariate analysis. Conversely, grade 3 tumors, and the intermediate (>0.20 to ⩽0.65) and high (>0.65) LNR were the only variables that were independently associated with adverse DFS. The overall survival (OS) in this series was 69 months (95% CI 60–77).ConclusionThe analysis of outcome of patients with early breast cancer in Egypt identified the adverse prognostic effects of high tumor grade, ER negativity and intermediate and high LNR on DFS. If the utility of the LNR is validated in other studies, it may replace the use of absolute number of axillary lymph nodes.     

Evaluation of prognostic value and stage migration effect using positive lymph node ratio in gastric cancer

Aims

To detect the best cut-off value of the positive lymph node ratio (PLNR) for stratifying the prognosis and analyzing its value with regard to stage migration effect using PLNR in gastric cancer.

淋巴结转移率评价腋窝淋巴结转移的保乳治疗乳腺癌患者预后的价值

目的 探讨淋巴结转移率(LNR)评价接受保留乳房治疗(BCT)并发生腋窝淋巴结转移的乳腺癌患者的预后是否优于pN分期.方法 回顾性分析1998-2007年间152例接受BCT并发生腋窝淋巴结转移的原发浸润性乳腺癌患者的临床资料,比较LNR和pN分期评价乳腺癌患者无病生存率和总生存率的价值.结果 152例患者中,pN1期114例,pN2期23例,pN3期15例.LNR≤0.20者114例,LNR为0.21～0.65者26例,LNR＞ 0.65者12例.单因素分析显示,淋巴结切检总数、pN分期、LNR、雌激素受体状态、孕激素受体状态、放疗均与患者的无病生存率和总生存率有关(均P ＜0.05);诊断年龄和化疗方案仅与患者的总生存率有关(均P＜0.05).多因素分析显示,LNR为影响患者无病生存率和总生存率的独立因素(均P ＜0.05),而pN分期与患者的无病生存率和总生存率无关(均P ＞0.05).在不同pN分期中,LNR也与患者的预后有关.结论 在评价接受BCT、发生淋巴结转移的乳腺癌患者预后时,LNR作为一个独立的预测指标,更优于pN分期.     

结直肠癌淋巴结微转移对预后影响的意义

背景与目的:淋巴结微转移的预后价值尚无一致意见,本研究旨在探讨结直肠癌淋巴结微转移的预后意义。方法:收集江汉大学附属医院1988年～2001年结直肠癌根治性手术切除、有完整淋巴结检查资料的标本80例,其中直肠癌30例,结肠癌50例。经过溶脂法检查淋巴结共3869枚,平均每例48.36枚,经4μm间断连续切片、常规HE染色和免疫组化染色,确定有无淋巴结转移与微转移(微转移灶为瘤团直径<0.2mm或瘤细胞数<50个)。数据经SAS8.1统计学软件进行Cox模型回归分析及Spearman等级相关分析。结果:共检出转移淋巴结232枚(6%),微转移淋巴结39枚(1.01%)。直肠癌中淋巴结转移数与患者生存时间有关(χ2=9.94,P=0.0016);淋巴结微转移与淋巴结转移数(r=0.44,P=0.016)等病理学指标有关。结肠癌中淋巴结转移数(χ2=9.52,P=0.002)、AJCC淋巴结分期(χ2=5.73,P=0.0167)与患者生存时间有关,淋巴结微转移与Dukes’淋巴结分期(r=0.314,P=0.008)有关。结论:淋巴结微转移与结直肠癌预后相关,但不能作为独立的预后指标。     

Metastatic lymph node ratio versus number of metastatic lymph nodes as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer

Objective

Knowledge of prognostic factors in gastric cancer is essential to decide on single patient management. We aim to establish the value of lymph node ratio compared to lymph node involvement in the prediction of gastric cancer survival and treatment approach.

Methods

Charts of ninety-six consecutive patients undergoing gastrectomy for resectable gastric cancer were reviewed between January 1996 and December 2005. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to verify the accuracy of metastatic lymph node ratio (MLNR) and number of metastatic lymph node (NMLN) cut-off values for survival prediction. Patients were divided into two groups according to ROC curve cut-offs and accuracy in prognosis was reviewed.

Results

ROC curves showed that 5 metastatic nodes and a node ratio value of 20% had the best survival prognostic correlation. The median survival of patients with MLNR and NMLN were similar according to cut-off determinations (≤5/>5 metastatic nodes and ≤20/>20% lymph node ratio). Five-year survival rates were 70.9% vs 17.1% and 72.4% vs 15.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). Positive correlation coefficient was found between the number of excised nodes and the number of metastatic nodes.

Conclusion

Number of metastatic lymph nodes showed greater accuracy than lymph node ratio for survival prediction in gastric cancer.     

A study of lymph node ratio as a prognostic marker in colon cancer

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate and describe the lymph node ratio (LNR) as a prognostic parameter for patients with colon cancer. As lymphatic involvement is the key, focus was set at stage III disease. Interest was directed at the possibility of identifying high-risk groups and the clinical implementation and consequence.

Method

The study was retrospective using a database of clinical data of all cancer patients treated at our unit. It has been continuous in registration, inclusion and update since 1999 including survival and clinical features. All patients (n = 265) diagnosed with stage III colon cancer during 1999–2003 were included for the study. LNR was calculated and quartile groups were created. LNR and associated parameters were analysed towards 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). Basic patient data as well as surgery, pathology and postoperative treatment were taken into consideration.

Results

Significant differences in disease-free survival were found for TNM N-status, tumour differentiation grade and LNR quartile group. There was a difference in 3-year DFS from 80% in LNR group 1 compared with less than 30% in group 4. These results were of prognostic interest both independently and in interaction with each other. High-risk groups could be identified and in the worst prognosis LNR group we also found a tendency towards more side effects with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion

The lymph node ratio, the quota between the number of lymph node metastasis and assessed lymph nodes, is a highly significant (p < 0.001) prognostic factor in stage III colon cancer. It can be an aid in identifying risk groups that could benefit from a more intense postoperative surveillance and possibly bring changes in adjuvant treatment strategy. More studies of clinical data, genetic and biochemical markers are needed in this patient group to understand the possible difference in tumour behaviour and tailor the treatment.     

Prognostic relevance of the lymph node ratio in surgical patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Aim

Few studies have investigated the influence of the lymph node ratio (LNR), the ratio of the number of lymph nodes harboring metastatic cancer to the total number of lymph nodes removed, on the outcome after surgery for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. This study was conducted to examine the prognostic impact of LNR in patients undergoing resection for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed a total of 60 consecutive patients who underwent resection for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We focused on the LNR, which was classified as 0 in 34 patients, between 0 and 0.2 in 13 patients, and greater than 0.2 in 13 patients.

Results

The overall five-year survival rates for patients with LNRs of 0, 0 to 0.2, and ≥0.2 were 44%, 10%, and 0%, respectively (p = 0.023). LNR was an independent predictive factor for estimated survival by both univariate (p = 0.016) and multivariate (p = 0.022) analyses including LNR, the sites of the primary tumors, and surgical margin as the variables. There were no statistically significant differences between patients who had less than 12 lymph nodes removed and those who had 12 or more lymph nodes removed (p = 0.484).

Conclusion

LNR was a powerful, independent predictor of estimated survival in patients undergoing surgical resection for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. LNR should be considered when stratifying patients for future clinical trials.     

Prognostic performance of different lymph node classification systems in young gastric cancer

BackgroundAccurate staging plays a pivotal role in cancer care. The lymph node (LN) ratio (LNR) and the log odds of positive LNs (LODDS) have been suggested as alternatives to the N staging since the TNM system has the risk of stage migration. The prognostic significance of LNR and LODDS in young patients with gastric cancer (GC) has not been reported. This study aims to investigate the correlations between LNR and LODDS and survival of young patients with GC, and compare the predictive performance of these LN staging methods.MethodsGC patients before the age of 40 from 2004 to 2016 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database were enrolled. The prognostic evaluation of the N factor, LNR and LODDS was compared using the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, area under the curve (AUC), C-index and Akaike information criterion (AIC).ResultsMultivariate survival analysis identified that the LNR and LODDS were significantly independent prognostic indicators for overall survival (OS) in young patients with GC and in the subgroups comprised of patients with ≤15 LNs examined. The time-dependent ROC curves of the LNR and LODDS were continuously superior to that of the N factor in predicting OS during the observation period. And the AUCs revealed that the predictive accuracy of the LNR and LODDS was remarkably superior to the N factor at 1 and 3 years (P<0.05). The model incorporating LNR or LODDS had higher C-index and lower AIC when comparing to the model incorporating the N factor.ConclusionsThe LNR and LODDS improve accuracy of survival risk prediction in young patients with GC when comparing to the N factor. These two novel LN classification methods should be considered as alternatives to the N staging for the prognostic prediction of young patients with GC.