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.     

阳性淋巴结比率对结直肠癌患者预后的预测价值

目的 探讨阳性淋巴结比率（LNR）对有淋巴结转移的结直肠癌患者3年生存率和3年无病生存率的预测价值。方法 收集2003年7月到2007年12月接受根治性手术的102例有淋巴结转移的散发性结直肠癌患者的临床病理资料。根据四分位法将患者按LNR值分为4组,分别为LNR1（LNR≤第25百分位数）、LNR2（第25百分位数＜LNR≤第50百分位数）、LNR3（第50百分位数＜LNR＜第75百分位数）和LNR4（LNR≥第75百分位数）。用Kaplan Meier法进行生存分析,用Cox比例风险回归模型进行生存多因素分析。结果 102例Ⅲ、Ⅳ期结直肠癌患者的3年生存率为72.5％,3年无病生存率为61.8％。腺癌、低级别分化患者的3年生存率更高（P＜0.05）。LNR1、LNR2、LNR3和LNR4 4组患者的3年生存率分别为100.0％、76.9％、68.0％和42.3％（P＜0.001）,3年无病生存率分别为92.0％、61.5％、68.0％和26.9％（P＜0.001）。 Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示,LNR1+LNR2组的3年生存率和3年无病生存率显著高于LNR3+LNR4组（P＜0.05）。Cox风险回归模型显示,LNR是结直肠癌患者预后的独立预测指标（P=0.036）。结论LNR能够准确判断结直肠癌患者的预后。     

DKK1蛋白表达与肝内胆管细胞癌患者淋巴结侵犯及其预后的相关性研究

目的 探讨DKK1蛋白表达与肝内胆管细胞癌患者淋巴结侵犯及其预后的相关性。方法选择2005年1月—2012年12月来我院行切除治疗肝内胆管癌患者78例,制作肝内胆管细胞癌组织及癌旁组织的组织芯片,并于术前进行生化指标测定。患者术后每隔3个月复查1次,并结合患者的临床资料和病历资料,采用Kaplan-Meier法进行无复发生存曲线及总生存曲线的绘制,采用Cox比例风险回归模型进行多因素分析,确定影响预后无复发生存时间(Relapse-free survival,RFS)和总生存时间(Overall survival,OS)的因素。结果 DKK1蛋白表达阴性与表达阳性的患者间GGT、肝门淋巴结侵犯、Child-Pugh分级、MMP9差异存在统计学意义(P＜0.05)。78例肝内胆管细胞癌患者组织芯片结果发现DKK1蛋白在肝内胆管细胞癌的阳性表达率为35.90%(28/78),在癌旁组织中的阳性表达率为14.10%(11/78)。78例肝内胆管细胞癌患者的1、3、5年的总生存率和无复发生存率分别为51.28%(40/78)与50.00%(38/78)、41.03%(32/78)与38.46%(30/78)、25.64%(20/78)与23.08%(18/78)。相关危险性因素经单因素、多因素分析后,研究结果显示GGT、CA19-9、CEA、肿瘤大小、DKK1、肝门淋巴结侵犯是影响肝内胆管细胞癌患者RFS的预后因素;CEA、肿瘤大小、DKK1、肝门淋巴结侵犯是影响肝内胆管细胞癌患者DFS的预后因素。DKK1蛋白表达阳性与阴性的OS与RFS曲线显示,5年后肝内胆管细胞癌患者DKK1蛋白表达阳性与阴性的总生存率分别为28.20%与20.51%;无复发生存率分别为24.36%与21.79%。结论 肝内胆管细胞癌患者淋巴结侵犯与否与DKK1蛋白表达密切相关,DKK1蛋白表达可能是影响肝内胆管细胞癌患者OS和RFS的预后因素。     

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.     

淋巴结转移对肝内胆管细胞癌患者预后的影响及临床相关因素研究

背景与目的：肝内胆管细胞癌（intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,ICC）是原发性肝癌中第二常见的病理学类型,起病隐匿,预后不佳。ICC常出现淋巴结转移（lymph node metastasis,LNM）。探讨肝十二指肠LNM与ICC患者临床相关因素及预后的关系。方法：共招募322例ICC患者在复旦大学附属中山医院行根治性肝肿瘤切除术,分析肝十二指肠LNM与临床病理学特征的关系及预后价值。结果：LNM与乙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis B virus,HBV）阳性、血清CA19-9>89 U/mL、肿瘤数目、肿瘤直径（>5 cm）、微血管侵犯、TNM分期、中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值（neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,NLR）显著相关。Kaplan-Meier分析显示,无LNM的ICC患者组的1、3和5年总生存率（overall survival,OS）分别为80.8%、53.4%和40.3%,显著高于伴有LNM组（47.4%、20.4%和10.2%,P<0.001）。无LNM的ICC患者组的1、3和5年无瘤生存率（recurrence-free survival,RFS）分别为62.6%、43.4%和36.3%,显著高于伴有LNM组（25.6%、16.6%和12.4%,P<0.001）。进一步研究发现,血清CA19-9>89 U/mL（P<0.001）、肿瘤直径>5 cm（P=0.042）、肿瘤数目（P<0.001）、微血管侵犯（P=0.022）、TNM分期（P<0.001）、NLR≥2.49（P=0.016）、淋巴细胞/单核细胞比值（lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio,LMR）<4.45（P=0.048）及LNM（P<0.001）与ICC患者术后无瘤生存时间（time to recurrence,TTR）显著相关;血清CA19-9>89 U/mL（P<0.001）、肿瘤直径>5 cm（P=0.008）、肿瘤数目（P=0.002）、TNM分期（P<0.001）、NLR≥2.49（P<0.001）、LMR<4.45（P=0.002）及LNM（P<0.001）与ICC患者术后OS显著相关。多因素分析显示,血清CA19-9>89 U/mL、肿瘤数目、LNM是影响ICC患者术后TTR的独立预后因素;血清CA19-9>89 U/mL、肿瘤数目、LMR<4.45、LNM是影响ICC患者术后OS的独立预后因素。结论：肝十二指肠LNM是ICC患者术后的独立预后因素,准确判断LNM状态具有重要的临床意义。     

Prognostic significance of lymph node metastasis and surgical margin status for distal cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prognostic indicators for patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma have not been confirmed because of its rarity. The aim of this study was to identify useful prognostic factors in patients undergoing surgical resection for distal cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: Charts of 43 patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma who underwent surgical resection were retrospectively reviewed. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed in 35 patients, and segmental bile duct resection in 8. Potential clinicopathological prognostic factors were examined by univariate and multivariate survival analysis. RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred after surgery in 19 patients (44%), but there was no mortality. Overall survival rates were 72%, 53%, and 44% for 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively (median survival time, 26.0 months). Univariate analysis found that older age, pathological pancreatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, perineural invasion, positive surgical margin, and TNM stages II and III were significant predictors of poor prognosis (P < 0.05). Furthermore, lymph node metastasis and positive surgical margin were found to be significant independent predictors of poor prognosis with a Cox proportional hazards regression model (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that lymph node metastasis and positive surgical margin as determined by surgical resection might be useful in predicting post-surgical outcome in patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma.     

Prognostic significance of the metastatic lymph node ratio in T3 gastric cancer patients undergoing total gastrectomy

Aims and background: The International Union Against Cancer tumor node metastasis classification is routinely applied for evaluating the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. However, results are still heterogeneous. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the prognostic significance of the metastatic lymph node (LN) ratio in T3 gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy. Methods: Clinical data of 109 LN-positive cases were retrospectively analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation coefficiency. Survival time was determined by Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox model. ROC curves were used to compare the accuracy of the number of metastatic LN and metastatic LN ratio. Results: The metastatic LN ratio did not correlate with the number of LN when at least 15 nodes were dissected, whereas the number of metastatic LN did. Univariate analysis showed that the metastatic LN ratio influenced significantly the survival time, while multivariate analysis revelaed it to be a major independent prognostic factor. Conclusions: The metastatic LN ratio can be used as a major independent prognostic factor for the patients with T3 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.     

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.     

纵隔淋巴结转移非小细胞肺癌的外科治疗

目的：总结纵隔淋巴结转移（N2）肺癌的外科治疗效果,探讨其临床病理特点与预后关系。方法：用SPSS软件对我院外科治疗1083例非小细胞肺癌建立数据库,对其中147例N2肺癌进行统计分析。结果：N2组中鳞癌发生率最低,肺鳞癌淋巴结转移度明显低于其他类型肺癌（P＜0．01）,其预后明显优于肺腺癌（P＜0．05）。根治性切除者淋巴结转移度明显低于姑息性切除者,预后明显优于姑息性切除者（P＜0．05）。淋巴结转移数与预后有关,＞4枚者预后差（P＜0．05）。手术方式及术后综合治疗与预后无明显关系。结论：肺癌外科治疗常规进行纵隔淋巴结清扫对达到根治效果和准确分期十分必要。     

Metastatic lymph node ratio in stage III rectal cancer; prognostic significance in addition to the 7th edition of the TNM classification

Aims

Optimal staging in rectal cancer is indispensable for the decision on further treatment and estimation of prognosis. This study assesses the prognostic capacity of the metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) in addition to the new TNM classification.

Methods

LNR was determined, in stage III patients from the Dutch TME-trial. Six year median follow up data from the trial database were used to analyse the relation of LNR to overall survival (OS) and local recurrence (LR). The relation of LNR to lymph node yield was assessed and appropriate cut off values of LNR for clinical use were determined.

Results

605 patients were analyzed. 278 underwent pre-operative radiotherapy. 82 patients developed a local recurrence and 289 distant metastases. LNR was an independent risk factor for OS, hazard ratio (HR) 2.10 (95% CI 1.35–3.27) (in addition to age >= 65 years, involved circumferential resection margin (CRM) and new TNM stage) and LR, HR 2.25 (95% CI 1.02–4.56) (in addition to pre-operative radiotherapy and involved CRM). LNR is predictive of OS and LR from a lymph node yield of more than one and more than five respectively. A LNR value of 0.60 offers the best cut off to identify high risk patients (5-years OS was 61 vs. 32%, HR 2.45 (95% CI 1.96–3.08) and 5-years LR rate 12.6 versus 16.3%, HR 1.65 (95% CI 1.03–2.64)).

Conclusions

LNR is an independent risk factor for OS and LR in addition to the 7th edition of the TNM classification. It can aid in predicting prognosis and identifying patients that should be considered for adjuvant treatment.     

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.

Prognostic factors in resectable cholangiocarcinoma patients: Carcinoembryonic antigen,lymph node,surgical margin and chemotherapy

AIM: To evaluate outcomes in resectable cholangiocarcinoma patients and to determine prognostic factors. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted among newly-diagnosed cholangiocarcinoma patients from January 2009 to December 2011 who underwent curative resection in Srinakarind Hospital (a 1000-bed university hospital). Two hundred and sixty-three cholangiocarcinoma patients with good performance were enrolled. These patients had pathological reports with clear margins or microscopic margins. Prognostic factors which included clinical factors, serum liver function test as well as serum tumor makers at presentation, tumor data, and receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were determined by uni- and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The median overall survival time was 17 mo (95%CI: 13.2-20.7); and 1-, 2-, and 3- year survival rates were 65.5%, 45.2% and 35.4%. Serum albumin levels, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, staging classifications by American Joint Committee on cancer, pathological tumor staging, lymph node metastases, tumor grading, surgical margin status, and if adjuvant chemotherapy was administered, were shown to be significant prognostic factors of resectable cholangiocarcinoma by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis, however, established that only abnormal serum CEA [hazard ratio (HR) 1.68; P = 0.027] and lymph node metastases (HR 2.27; P = 0.007) were significantly associated with a decrease in overall survival, while adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 0.71; P = 0.067) and surgical margin negative (HR 0.72; P = 0.094) tended to improve survival time. CONCLUSION: Serum CEA and lymph node metastases which were associated with advanced stage tumors become strong negative prognostic factors in cholangiocarcinoma.     

Prognostic impact of positive lymph node ratio in gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: One hundred and sixty four patients who underwent D(2) dissection for gastric carcinoma at Ankara Oncology Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The prognostic factors including Japanese classification, AJCC/UICC TNM classification and metastatic lymph node ratio (1-10% and >10%) were evaluated in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis showed that Borrmann classification, pN-category of AJCC/UICC classification and metastatic lymph node ratio were the most significant prognostic factors and a higher hazard ratio was obtained for metastatic lymph node ratio than pN category of AJCC/UICC classification (4.5 vs. 11.4). When the metastatic ratio groups of 1-10% and >10% were subdivided into pN(1), pN(2) and pN(3) categories of the AJCC/UICC classification, there was no statistical difference between survival curves. When pN(1), pN(2) and pN(3) categories of the AJCC/UICC classification were subdivided into the ratio groups of 1-10% and >10%, the survival rate of ratio group 1-10% was better than ratio group >10%. CONCLUSION: With its simplicity and reproducibility, metastatic lymph node ratio can be used as a reliable prognostic indicator.     

双侧腹股沟淋巴结转移对淋巴结阳性阴茎癌预后评估的价值

目的探讨双侧腹股沟淋巴结转移在淋巴结阳性阴茎癌预后评估中的价值。方法回顾性分析60例淋巴结转移阳性阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者资料。所有患者均接受区域淋巴结清扫手术。Kaplan-Meier法绘制无复发生存曲线并通过Log—rank检验加以分析,COX回归模型进行多因素生存分析。结果60例患者中18例有双侧腹股沟淋巴结转移,其3年无复发生存率（26．7％）显著低于单侧腹股沟淋巴结转移患者（65．3％）,差异有统计学意义（x^2=10．6,P=0．001）。经多因素生存分析,阳性淋巴结数目和双侧腹股沟淋巴结转移均是独立的生存预后因素（均P〈0．05）。生存曲线比较显示双侧腹股沟淋巴结转移且阳性淋巴结数〉2个的患者预后差。结论在考虑了淋巴结阳性阴茎癌阳性淋巴结数目的影响后,双侧腹股沟淋巴结转移仍是其重要预后指标。     

The prognostic significance of extracapsular lymph node involvement in node positive patients with colonic cancer

Aims

In colonic cancer the prognostic significance of extracapsular lymph node involvement (LNI) is not established and is therefore the objective of this study.

Methods

Between January 1994 and May 2005, all patients who underwent resection for primary colonic cancer with lymph node metastasis were reviewed. All resected lymph nodes were re-examined to assess extracapsular LNI. In uni- and multivariate analysis disease-free survival (DFS) was correlated with various clinicopathologic factors.

Results

One hundred and eleven patients were included. In 58 patients extracapsular LNI was identified. Univariate analysis revealed that pN-stage (5-year DFS pN1 vs. pN2: 65% vs. 14%, p < 0.001), extracapsular LNI (5-year DFS intracapsular LNI vs. extracapsular LNI: 69% vs. 41%, p = 0.003), and lymph node ratio (5-year DFS <0.176 vs. ≥0.176: 67% vs. 42%, p = 0.023) were significant prognostic indicators. Among these variables pN-stage (hazard ratio 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72–7.42) and extracapsular LNI (hazard ratio 1.98, 95% CI: 1.00–3.91) were independent prognostic factors. Among patients without extracapsular LNI, those receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had a significantly better survival (p = 0.010). In contrast, chemotherapy did not improve DFS in patients with extracapsular LNI.

Conclusion

Together with pN2 stage, extracapsular LNI reflects a particularly aggressive behaviour and has significant prognostic potential.     

Clinical relevance of lymph node ratio in breast cancer patients with one to three positive lymph nodes

Background:

To test the hypotheses that breast cancer patients with one to three positive lymph nodes (pN1) consist of heterogeneous prognostic subsets and that the ratio of positive nodes to total nodes dissected (lymph node ratio, LNR) might discriminate patients with a higher risk as candidates for post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT).

Methods:

Using information from 7741 node-positive patients, we first identified cutoff values of the LNR using the nonparametric bootstrap method. Focusing on 3477 patients with pN1 disease, we then evaluated the clinical relevance of the LNR categorised by the estimated cutoff values (categorised LNR, cLNR).

Results:

Among 3477 patients with pN1 disease, 3059 and 418 patients were assigned into the low and intermediate cLNR groups, respectively, based on a cutoff value of 0.18. The prognostic factors associated with poor overall survival (OS) included younger age, T2 stage, negative oestrogen/progesterone receptors, high histologic grade, and intermediate cLNR. Post-mastectomy radiation therapy significantly increased OS in patients assigned to the intermediate cLNR (hazard ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.17–0.89; P=0.0248), whereas patients in the low cLNR group derived no additional survival benefit from PMRT.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that PMRT should be recommended for patients with pN1 disease and an intermediate cLNR.     

Clinical implication of tumor site in terms of node metastasis for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BackgroundThe clinical implication of lymph node (LN) dissection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA) is still controversial, and LN metastasis (LNM) based on tumor site has not been confirmed yet.MethodsPatients who underwent curative-intent surgery at 10 tertiary referral centers were identified and divided into peripheral (PP) and near second confluence level tumor (NC) groups on the basis of the distance from the second confluence and oncological outcomes were compared.ResultsOf 179 patients, 121 patients with LND were divided into the NC (n = 89) and PP groups (n = 32) on the basis of 4.5 cm from the second confluence. NC group showed higher LNM rate than PP group (46.1 vs 21.9%, p = 0.016) and NC was a risk factor for LNM (odds ratio: 4.367; 95% confidence interval: 1.234–15.453, p = 0.022). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate (38.0% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.777) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates (22.8% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.742) showed no differences between the PP and NC groups. In the NC group, N1 patients showed worse 5-year OS (12.7% vs 39.0%, p = 0.004) and RFS (8.8% vs 28.6%, p = 0.004) than the N0 patients. In the PP group, discordant results in 5-year OS (48.9% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.462) and RFS (41.3% vs. 0%, p = 0.056) were found between the N0 and N1 patients.ConclusionThe NC group was an independent risk factor for LNM and LNM worsened prognosis in NC group for ICCA. In the PP group, LND should not be omitted because of high LNM rate and insufficient oncologic evidence.