Involvement of three or more lymph nodes predicts poor prognosis in submucosal gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Multivariate analyses has shown that the status of lymph node metastasis and the depth of tumor penetration through the gastric wall are the most important prognostic factors in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma after curative operation. A clinicopathological study was carried out to clarify a simple and optimal prognostic indicator for early gastric cancer. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of 982 patients with early gastric cancer (562 with mucosal [M] and 420 with submucosal [SM] tumor) treated by gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection were performed. RESULTS: The incidence of lymph node metastasis from M and SM tumors was 2.5% (14/562) and 20.2% (85/420), respectively. There were no apparent prognostic indicators in patients with M tumors. In patients with SM tumors, the cancer-specific 5-year survival of those with lymph node metastasis was significantly lower than that of those without such metastasis (77.6% vs 98.2%; P < 0.001). An sharp decrease in survival was seen between patients with two positive nodes and those with three positive nodes, and the cancer-specific 5-year survival rate of patients with three or more metastatic lymph nodes was significantly lower than that of those with one or two nodes (P < 0.001; univariate analysis). Multivariate analysis revealed that the involvement of three or more lymph nodes was the sole independent prognostic determinant (P = 0.016); the level of nodal metastasis was not an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.384). All patients with N2 lymph node echelons (according to the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer classification of the draining lymph nodes of the stomach) in the group with one or two positive nodes survived for more than 5 years. CONCLUSION: The sole independent prognostic factor in SM gastric cancer is the involvement of three or more metastatic lymph nodes. We suggest that this simple prognostic indicator for the follow-up of early gastric cancer, and this could lead to potentially effective adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Gastric cancer: extent of lymph node dissection and requirements for a correct staging

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Lymphatic spread is an important prognostic factor in gastric cancer. The TNM classification requires at least 15 lymph nodes to stage and identify three prognostic groups according to the number of metastatic lymph nodes: N1 (1-6), N2 (7-15), N3 (> 15). The aim of this study was to investigate which type of lymph node dissection allows an accurate staging. METHODS: From 1996 to 2001, we treated 140 gastric cancer patients, 27 with D1 and 113 with D2 dissection. We evaluated lymph node count, status and ratio between metastatic and total number of excised lymph nodes, keeping 20% as the cutoff value. RESULTS: The mean number of lymph nodes was 18 and 33 respectively for D1 and D2 (P < 0.001), 41% of patients in D1 and 5% in D2 had less than 15 lymph nodes (P < 0.001). 59% in D1 and 73% in D2 (P = 0.145) had lymph node metastases, but this incidence decreased to 36% (P = 0.045) and 16% (P < 0.001) respectively for D1 and D2 when less than 15 lymph nodes were available. Considering the ratio between metastatic and total number of lymph nodes, 45% of D1 versus 3% of D2 (P < 0.001) in the N1 group exceeded 20%. CONCLUSIONS: D2 lymph node dissection is better than D1 in providing at least 15 lymph nodes required for a correct staging. We confirm the risk of a downstage when less than 15 lymph nodes are available.     

Asian patients with gastric carcinoma in the United States exhibit unique clinical features and superior overall and cancer specific survival rates

BACKGROUND: The 5-year survival rate from gastric carcinoma, stratified by stage, is markedly greater in the Far East than in the United States. This survival rate advantage may reflect differences in diagnostic criteria, more complete staging, more radical surgery, or less aggressive tumor biology. METHODS: A historic cohort of consecutive cases of gastric carcinoma reported to the population-based California Cancer Registries of Orange, San Diego and Imperial Counties from 1984 to 1996 was studied. Factors associated with Asian race were profiled using logistic regression. Multivariate survival analyses were performed using a Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Two thousand four hundred sixteen patients (64%) were non-Latino white; 690 (18%) were Latino; 94 (2.5%) were black; 541 (14%) were of Asian descent: Korean (22%), Vietnamese (20%), Japanese (20%), Chinese (14%), and Filipino (12%). Asian patients were more likely to have localized (lymph node negative) disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-2.10), less likely to have tumors of the gastroesophageal junction (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.15-0.31,), and less likely to be older than 50 years (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.43-0.77). Asian patients with gastric carcinoma were twice as likely as non-Latino whites to be alive at 5 years (20.9% vs. 10.2%; P < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses indicated that whites had an increased risk of dying from all causes (relative risk [RR], 1.34; 95% CI, 1.16-1.55; P < 0.01) and of dying from cancer in comparison to Asian patients (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07-1.48; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Asians who received a diagnosis of gastric carcinoma in the United States have less advanced disease than non-Asians. The increased proportion of localized disease and improved survival rates of patients of Asian descent in the United States is consistent with less aggressive tumor biology.     

胃癌D2根治术中纳米碳显影法应用研究

目的 目前认为进展期胃癌分检35枚淋巴结更贴合患者准确病理分期,但常规分检淋巴结方法很难实现.本研究探讨纳米碳显影法在胃癌D2根治术中淋巴结分检中的应用优势.方法 回顾性分析2015-10-01-2016-09-30河南省肿瘤医院普外科100例胃癌患者临床资料,按是否应用纳米碳显影分为纳米碳显影组(观察组)和非显影组(对照组),对照2组检出淋巴结总数、平均检出淋巴结数、淋巴结＜15枚例数、阳性淋巴结数、淋巴结阳性率、患者转移率、平均直径＜5 mm数、平均直径＜5 mm阳性淋巴结数、第1、2站淋巴结数和淋巴结分检时间等指标.结果 观察组检出淋巴结总数(3 005枚)和阳性淋巴结总数(509枚)均高于对照组的1 560和305枚.观察组和对照组平均检出淋巴结数分别为62.943±14.507和32.436±5.743,差异有统计学意义,P＜0.001;淋巴结分检时间分别为(14.1±2.5)和(17.4±3.2) min,差异有统计学意义,P＜0.001;平均直径＜5 mm数分别为28.972±7.819和9.503±3.390,差异有统计学意义,P＜0.001;平均直径＜5 mm阳性淋巴结分别为17.065±7.610和11.124±8.376,差异有统计学意义,P=0.010;第1(36.605±12.720和19.391±4.518)和第2站淋巴结数(30.110±10.298和14.876±5.396)差异统计学意义,P＜0.001;淋巴结阳性率分别为(0.461±0.249)％和(0.453±0.272)％,差异无统计学意义,P=0.948.结论 采用纳米碳显影方法在胃癌D2根治术的淋巴结分检中具有操作简便,获取淋巴结数目多,更有利于准确病理分期等优点.     

胃癌淋巴结微转移的多种抗体联合检测及其临床价值

免疫组化法检测胃癌淋巴结中的微转移灶方法简便,但敏感性差。同时应用多种抗体联合检测淋巴结的微转移情况,是否能提高其敏感性,克服免疫组化法的弱点尚有一些争议。本研究应用细胞角蛋白20(CK20)、上皮膜抗原(EMA)及肿瘤相关糖蛋白72-4(CA72-4)抗体对胃癌阴性淋巴结的微转移情况进行联合检测,旨在评价多种抗体联合检测微转移的应用价值。     

胃癌患者淋巴结转移组数与预后相关性分析

  目的  探讨淋巴结转移组数与胃癌患者预后的关系。  方法  将中山大学肿瘤防治中心胃胰科2000年1月至2010年9月间1 009例行胃癌根治术、淋巴结检取超过15枚的患者纳入本研究。淋巴结分组采用日本第13版胃癌处理规约的定义。应用Log rank检验和Cox回归分析探讨淋巴结转移组数(n group, Ng)与预后的相关性。  结果  将淋巴结转移组数分为5组:无淋巴结转移(Ng0)、1组淋巴结转移(Ng1)、2组淋巴结转移(Ng2)、3~5组淋巴结转移(Ng3)、6组及以上淋巴结转移(Ng4), 3年生存率分别为91.6%、84.7%、72.0%、59.6%、43.0%, 5年生存率分别为89.9%、82.4%、66.9%、54.6%、38.3%, 各组间3、5年生存率均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。胃癌患者Ng越高, 5年生存率越低, Ng是胃癌的独立预后因素。  结论  Ng是对于现行UICC N分期的良好补充。      

国际抗癌联盟和日本胃癌协会胃癌淋巴结分期法与国人胃癌患者预后相关性的比较

目的 比较国际抗癌联盟(UICC)和日本胃癌协会(JGCA)两种胃癌淋巴结分期法与胃癌预后的相关性,评价其在胃癌预后评估中的指导意义和应用价值.方法 1996年1月至2005年12月间,经D2及以上胃癌根治手术,清扫淋巴结数目≥15枚,并有完整随访资料的395例胃癌患者为研究对象,分别以两种淋巴结分期法进行分期并绘制生存曲线.以Kaplan-Meier法进行生存率分析,Log rank检验评估组间的差异.结果 按UICC法分期后,各组间患者的生存率差异更明显.对T3期患者分别以两种方法分组并进行生存率比较显示,按照UICC法分期各组间的差异更明显.对两种分期后的N亚期以另一种标准相互再分期后,生存曲线显示,以UICC法对JGCA法分期后的各组再分期所产生的差异比以JGCA法对UICC法分期后的各组再分期后所产生的差异明显.在JGCA分期标准中,Ⅰa、Ⅰb、Ⅱ、Ⅲa、Ⅲb和Ⅳ期患者的5年生存率分别为100.0%、96.9%、79.3%、54.2%、16.8%和11.2%;在UICC TNM分期标准中,其5年生存率分别为100.0%、96.9%、75.4%、51.8%、18.4%和10.5%.各期患者的5年生存率差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 UICC TNM胃癌分期标准与预后的相关性更好,对胃癌患者的预后评估和治疗方案的制定有更为客观的指导意义;而施行标准的D2胃癌根治手术和清扫至少15枚淋巴结是实行UICC分期法所必需的.     

Evaluation of the New American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union against cancer classification of lymph node metastasis from gastric carcinoma in comparison with the Japanese classification.

BACKGROUND: A new system for the classification of gastric carcinoma, based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes, has been adopted by the current American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer (AJCC/UICC) TNM system (1997). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rationality of this classification in comparison with the Japanese classification, which is based on the location of positive lymph nodes. METHODS: The authors analyzed 587 patients who underwent clinically curative gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric carcinoma and each had 15 or more lymph nodes histologically examined from 1982 to 1992. Multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model was carried out to determine which classification was more effective. RESULTS: Within the pN1 or pN2 category of the new AJCC/UICC system, no significant difference in the survival rates existed between n1 patients and n2 patients of the Japanese classification. On the other hand, the survival rates significantly decreased, in the order of pN1, pN2, and pN3 (from greatest to smallest decrease), within the n1 and n2 categories. In multivariate analysis, lymph node involvement by the AJCC/UICC classification was selected as the most significant prognostic determinant, whereas the Japanese lymph node classification was not significantly prognostic. When survival rates were calculated within the pT1, pT2, and pT3-4 categories, no differences existed between pN0 and pN1. There was some discrepancy between the survival rate for each pT and pN category and the corresponding stage. CONCLUSIONS: The new AJCC/UICC classification for lymph node involvement of gastric carcinoma is basically acceptable and considered superior to the Japanese classification. Further analysis involving a greater number of cases may be necessary to confirm the applicability of this staging system.     

Disparity in pathologic and clinical lymph node staging in oral tongue carcinoma. Implication for therapeutic decision making

BACKGROUND: Regional lymph node metastasis is the most reliable predictor of treatment outcomes for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue (SCCOT). A recent American Joint Committee on Cancer staging update of malignant melanoma has incorporated pathologic lymph node staging. The authors hypothesized that pathologic lymph node staging (pN) would be a more reliable predictor of treatment outcomes than clinical lymph node staging (cN). METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 266 patients who received primary surgical treatment for SCCOT, including a neck dissection, from January 1980 to December 1995. Overall and disease-specific survival and disease-free interval were compared with respect to clinical and pathologic lymph node stages. RESULTS: Statistically significant survival differences were identified for both clinical (cN0-cN2) and pathologic lymph node stages (pN0-pN2). However, survival and disease-free interval differences for pathologic lymph node staging reached higher statistical significance (P < 0.0001) than for clinical lymph node staging (P < 0.002). This disparity can be explained by stage migration (i.e., patients with cN0-1 disease have a more advanced lymph node stage at the time of pathologic review compared with patients without cN0-1 disease). The authors found a 34% rate of occult lymph node disease in the cN0 group (19% of occult lymph nodes had extracapsular spread [ECS]). Similarly, 43% of cN1 patients had a higher stage than pN2b disease and 50% had ECS. CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic lymph node staging, based on a staging or therapeutic neck dissection, should be considered for patients treated for SCCOT to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from additional adjuvant therapy. Prospective studies are essential to validate these findings before pathologic lymph node staging is included in standard staging criteria.     

胃癌原发灶和淋巴结转移灶HER2表达的临床意义

目的 观察HER2在胃癌原发灶和淋巴结转移灶中的表达及其临床意义.方法 选取胃癌患者140例,其中淋巴结转移94例.采集胃癌患者的原发灶、淋巴结转移灶及癌旁组织,采用免疫组织化学法(Elivision)方法检测3种组织中HER2蛋白表达情况.结果 140例胃癌原发灶组织中HER2蛋白阳性表达与胃癌TNM分期、浸润深度及淋巴结转移有关(P<0.05),而与患者性别、年龄和分化程度无关(P>0.05),癌旁组织中HER2表达与性别、年龄、分化程度、TNM分期、浸润深度及淋巴结转移均无关(P>0.05);HER2蛋白在胃癌原发灶、淋巴结转移灶中表达水平均高于癌旁组织,差异有统计学意义,而94例淋巴结转移灶和对应的胃癌原发灶中HER2表达的差异无统计学意义;94例有淋巴结转移的患者淋巴结转移灶与原发灶HER2表达一致率为89.4%,两类标本HER2表达状态具有一致性(Z=6.386,P<0.001).结论 胃癌HER2蛋白的阳性表达与胃癌TNM分期、浸润深度及淋巴结转移有关,提示HER2的表达与胃癌的浸润转移有关;胃癌原发灶和淋巴结转移灶HER2的表达具有较好的一致性,患者在不能获取原发病灶的情况下,检测转移灶中HER-2可能为靶向治疗的选择提供依据,为晚期胃癌患者带来希望.     

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.     

Pathologic analysis of sentinel and nonsentinel lymph nodes in breast carcinoma: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND: Axillary lymph node status is a powerful prognostic factor in breast carcinoma; however, complications after axillary lymph node dissection are common. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an alternative staging procedure. The sentinel lymph node postulate is that tumor cells migrating from the primary tumor colonize one or a few lymph nodes before colonizing subsequent lymph nodes. To validate this hypothesis, the distribution of occult and nonoccult metastases in sentinel and nonsentinel lymph nodes was evaluated. METHODS: Original pathology material was reviewed from 431 patients enrolled on a multicenter validation study of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast carcinoma patients. Paraffin embedded tissue blocks of sentinel and nonsentinel lymph nodes were obtained for 214 lymph node negative patients. Additional sections from 100 and 200 microm deeper into the paraffin block were examined for the presence of occult metastatic carcinoma. Both routine and cytokeratin immunohistochemical stains were employed. RESULTS: Metastases were identified in 15.9% of sentinel lymph nodes and 4.2% of nonsentinel lymph nodes (odds ratio [OR] 4.3[ P < 0.001]; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 3.5-5.4). Occult metastases were identified in 4. 09% of sentinel lymph nodes and 0.35% of nonsentinel lymph nodes (OR 12.3 [P < 0.001]; 95% CI, 5.6-28.6). The overall case conversion rate was 10.3%. All the occult metastases identified were < or = 1 mm in greatest individual dimension. The likelihood (OR) of metastases in nonsentinel lymph nodes was 13.4 times higher for sentinel lymph node positive than for sentinel lymph node negative patients (P < 0. 001; 95% CI, 6.7-28.1). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of occult and nonoccult metastases in axillary lymph nodes validates the sentinel lymph node hypothesis. In addition, pathology review of cases confirmed the authors' previously reported finding that the sentinel lymph nodes are predictive of the final axillary lymph node status. Occult metastatic disease is more likely to be identified in sentinel lymph nodes, allowing future studies to focus attention on one or a few sentinel lymph nodes. However, the relation between occult metastatic disease in sentinel lymph nodes, disease free survival, and overall survival must be evaluated prior to endorsing the intensive analysis of sentinel lymph nodes in routine practice. [See editorial on pages 971-7, this issue.] Copyright 2000 American Cancer Society.     

Perigastric lymph node metastases in gastric cancer: comparison of different staging systems

Background. Perigastric lymph node metastases in gastric cancer are classified differently by different staging systems: the distance of positive nodes from the primary tumor is considered by the 1987 International Union Against Cancer (UICC)-TNM system, but not by the Japanese staging system (of the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer [JRSGC]); the new UICC-TNM system of 1997 is based on the number of involved nodes without differentiating perigastric from regional nodes. The aim of the present study was to assess which classification was more useful to predict prognosis in gastric cancer patients with metastases to the perigastric nodes. Methods. The results for 107 patients with lymph node metastases to the first and second tiers who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer from March 1988 to October 1997 were analyzed. In particular, we compared the clinical characteristics and the survival probabilities of: (1) patients with metastases to perigastric nodes located within 3 cm from the primary tumor, classified as N1; (2) patients with metastases to perigastric nodes located 3 cm beyond the primary tumor (N2 in the UICC-TNM and N1 in the Japanese classification), classified by us as N1–N2; and (3) patients with metastases to the second tier (classified by us as N2). We also assessed the number of positive nodes dividing the patients into groups according to the 1997 UICC TNM system. Results. On multivariate survival analysis, the mortality risks in the N1 and N1–N2 patients were comparable (relative risk [RR], N1–N2 versus N1, 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53–3.51) and were half the mortality risk in N2 patients (RR, N2 versus N1, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.33–4.79). The N1 and N1–N2 categories, while presenting markedly different distributions in the number of metastatic nodes (patients with more than seven metastatic nodes constituted less than 20% of the N1 group and more than 60% of the N1–N2 group), showed similar prognostic significance. Conclusion. In the present series, the distance of perigastric nodes from the primary tumor did not seem to exert a significant effect on prognosis, and the use of a combined classification based on anatomical location (JRSGC) and number of node metastases (UICC-TNM 1997) could be more useful than either system alone for prognostic purposes. Received on July 14, 1999; accepted on Nov. 18, 1999     

Lymph node staging by positron emission tomography in patients with carcinoma of the cervix.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the results of computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) for lymph node staging in patients with carcinoma of the cervix and to evaluate the relationship of the imaging findings to prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively compared the results of CT lymph node staging and whole-body FDG-PET in 101 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the cervix. Patients were treated with standard irradiation and chemotherapy (as clinically indicated) and observed at 3-month intervals for a median of 15.4 months (range, 2.5 to 30 months). Progression-free survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: CT demonstrated abnormally enlarged pelvic lymph nodes in 20 (20%) and para-aortic lymph nodes in seven (7%) of the 101 patients. PET demonstrated abnormal FDG uptake in pelvic lymph nodes in 67 (67%), in para-aortic lymph nodes in 21 (21%), and in supraclavicular lymph node in eight (8%). The 2-year progression-free survival, based solely on para-aortic lymph node status, was 64% in CT-negative and PET-negative patients, 18% in CT-negative and PET-positive patients, and 14% in CT-positive and PET-positive patients (P <.0001). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the most significant prognostic factor for progression-free survival was the presence of positive para-aortic lymph nodes as detected by PET imaging (P =.025). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that FDG-PET detects abnormal lymph node regions more often than does CT and that the findings on PET are a better predictor of survival than those of CT in patients with carcinoma of the cervix.     

The National Cancer Data Base Report on poor survival of U.S. gastric carcinoma patients treated with gastrectomy: Fifth Edition American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, proximal disease, and the "different disease" hypothesis

BACKGROUND: A high proportion of U.S. patients with gastric carcinoma do not receive surgical treatment. To sharpen staging criteria and facilitate comparisons with surgical series, an analysis of patients whose treatment included gastrectomy was undertaken. In addition, to evaluate the "different disease" hypothesis as an explanation for superior Japanese results, outcomes for Japanese Americans were examined. METHODS: Data were obtained from National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) reports of 50,169 gastric carcinoma cases diagnosed during the years 1985-1996 and treated with gastrectomy. In addition to demographic and treatment information, 5-year and 10-year relative survival rates are presented, with stage defined according to fifth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging procedures. RESULTS: Stage-stratified 5-year and 10-year relative survival rates were as follows: Stage IA, 78%/65%; Stage IB, 58%/42%; Stage II, 34%/26%; Stage IIIA, 20%/14%; Stage IIIB, 8%/3%; and Stage IV, 7%/5%. Stage-stratified survival for Japanese Americans was higher. Males had a poorer prognosis than females, and the male-to-female ratio for Japanese Americans was lower. Proximal tumors were associated with a worse prognosis than distal tumors; the proportion of Japanese Americans with proximal disease was less than in the overall patient group. Japanese Americans underwent resection of adjacent organs less frequently. In this series, adjuvant therapy did not substantially affect survival. Overall, 20% were 10-year survivors; of these, 67% were lymph node negative and 98% had /= 15 lymph nodes analyzed. Stage migration was evident in cases with 相似文献   

Immunohistochemically detected micrometastases of the lymph nodes in patients with gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Lymph node status is a major determinant of disease recurrence after patients undergo curative resection for gastric carcinoma. A proportion of patients without lymph node metastasis develop systemic recurrences. Recent studies in a range of solid tumors have found a high incidence of micrometastases in the regional lymph nodes of patients with apparently negative lymph nodes. In patients with breast and colorectal carcinoma, the presence of micrometastases has been associated with a poorer prognosis. In patients with gastric carcinoma, the significance of micrometastases in lymph nodes remains controversial. Most published reports on this subject suffer from the problems of small sample size and selection bias. METHODS: One hundred seven patients with pathologic T2N0M0 (tumor invades muscularis propria or subserosa [T2], no regional lymph node metastasis [N0], and no distant metastasis [M0]; pT2N0M0) gastric carcinoma who underwent gastric resection between 1984 and 1990 at the National Cancer Center Hospital were studied. Two consecutive sections were newly prepared from each lymph node for hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) with antibody against cytokeratin. Associations between clinicopathologic factors and the presence of micrometastases as well as micrometastases and survival were sought. RESULTS: Micrometastases were identified in 38 of 107 patients (35.5%) and in 87 of 4484 lymph nodes (1.94%) by IHC. The incidence of micrometastases was significantly higher in patients with infiltrative tumors than in patients with expansive, growing tumors (P = 0.02). Other clinicopathologic findings had no statistically significant correlation with the incidence of micrometastases. The 5-year survival rates of patients with and without micrometastases were 94% and 89%, respectively. Similarly, the 10-year survival rates were 79% and 74%, respectively. The survival curves of patients with or without micrometastasis were nearly superimposed (P = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of immunohistochemically detected micrometastases in the regional lymph nodes did not affect the survival of Japanese patients with pT2N0M0 gastric carcinoma who had undergone gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection.     

阴性淋巴结数目预测胃癌术后生存的临床价值

目的:评价局部进展期胃癌根治术后区域阴性淋巴结数目对术后无瘤生存期（disease free survival,DFS）的影响。方法:选取有明确术后病理资料且术后病理分期为T3N0～2M0、随访资料完整、术后无瘤生存时间超过6 个月的根治术后胃癌患者共485 例,按照不同术后病理分期进行单独分组分析。Cox 多因素回归分析筛选影响术后无瘤生存的因素,Kaplan-Meier 方法绘制术后无瘤生存曲线,并比较各组中无瘤生存率间的差异。结果:Cox 多因素回归分析表明,独立影响胃癌患者术后无瘤生存期的因素包括年龄、肿瘤分化程度、肿瘤部位以及术后病理中阴性淋巴结数目。在T3N0M0 组中,当阴性淋巴结分别为1～4 枚和≥5 枚时,患者2 年无瘤生存率分别为8.3% 和55.6% ,3 年无瘤生存率分别为0 和24.9%（P=0.025）;在T3N1M0 组中,当阴性淋巴结分别为≤3 枚、4～9 枚和≥10枚时,患者2 年无瘤生存率分别为17.3% 、39.1% 和52.6% ,3 年无瘤生存率分别为4.2% 、6.0% 和17.1%（P<0.001）;在T3N2M0 组中,当阴性淋巴结为≤7 枚和≥8 枚时,患者2 年无瘤生存率分别为11.5% 和35.0% ,3 年无瘤生存率分别为0.8% 和5.0%（P=0.015）。 结论:对于术后病理分期为T3N0～2M0 的胃癌病例,术后病理资料中阴性淋巴结数目可反映区域淋巴结清扫的彻底性以及评价术后病理分期的准确性,是影响根治术后无瘤生存期的独立预后因素。      

常规检查淋巴结阴性胃癌的淋巴结微转移研究

目的 研究常规病理检查无淋巴结转移的胃癌之淋巴结转移的特点,分析微转移与各种临床病理因素及预后的关系。方法 选用抗低分子量细胞角蛋白抗体ＡＥ１,运用免疫组化方法,检测１０５例常规病理检查无淋巴结转移的胃癌根治根本的胃周淋巴结１２４５个,并进行统计处理。结果 ３１例（２９．５％）胃癌的８１个淋巴结（６．５％）出现微转移。弥漫型胃癌的淋巴结微转移阳性率（４１．５％,２２／５３）明显高于肠型胃癌（１７．     

D2 dissection for gastric cancer

Theodore Billroth successfully performed the first gastrectomy for cancer in Vienna in 1881. This was the beginning of modern gastric cancer surgery and provided the first real hope for cure from this form of cancer. Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer related mortality world wide, particularly in Central and South America, Japan and Korea, and in the Baltic Sea countries. In the United States, the incidence of gastric cancer has been on the decline since the 1930s. In 1996, it was estimated that there were 24,000 new cases of gastric cancer with 80–90% expected to die of their disease. The Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer has classified the draining lymph nodes of the stomach and assigned 16 different lymphatic stations. The nodes were then assigned to one of four echelons (N1–N4). Different locations of the cancer within the stomach require different forms of gastric resections. The Japanese have defined four levels of lymph node dissections (D1–D4), where specified lymph nodes from assigned lymphatic stations are dissected for a given type of resection. This was defined by the General Rules for the Gastric Cancer Study in Surgery and Pathology by the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer in 1962 and revised in 1994. When a tumor has progressed to the muscularis propria or subserosa (T2), 8–31% of the second echelon lymph nodes (N2) will contain metastases. When a tumor has penetrated the serosa (T3), more than 40% of the second echelon lymph nodes will have metastases. Therefore, less than a D2 dissection will inadequately stage a significant population of patients. When retrospective series are reviewed at institutions committed to performing D2 dissections, the overall survival repeatedly shows improved results for patients undergoing D2 dissections when compared to D1 dissections. Moreover, there have been several large trials from all areas of the world which have shown similar morbidity and mortality results when D1 and D2 dissections have been compared.To date, there have been no trials which have been reproducible that have shown an improved survival in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Intergroup 0116 is currently studying the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in gastric cancer.We have not come far from the days of Theodore Billroth in the treatment modalities for gastric cancer. As surgical expertise and technology have improved, and the field of anesthesia has developed, survival of patients has improved. Only the extent of lymphatic dissection (D2 dissection) has proven beneficial to the outcomes of patients with this disease.     

Detection and significance of lymph node micro-metastases in patients with node-negative gastric carcinoma

Lymph node ndcrometastases refer to minute cancermetastases in lymph nodes whose diameter is less than 2nun,l'] and they are difficult to be observed with routinehistologic exndnation. In early years serial sectioningwas frequently used in detectingl lymph node ulnicrometastases. Since the 80's inununohistochemicaltechnique has been commonly employed, and recentlyreverse iran s criptas es -polymeras e chain reaction is al s oaPPlied in order to detect ndcrometastases.12--SJ Althoughall techn…