The Number of Harvested LNs Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Lymph Node Metastasis-negative Patients Who Received Curative Esophagectomy.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND/AIM:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the optimal number of harvested LNs (LNs) in patients who were LN metastasis-negative after curative esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS:Sixty-one patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2017 and diagnosed as lymph node metastasis-negative were included in this study. RESULTS:The 5-year overall survival rates were 27.8% for 0-20 harvested LNs, 35.7% for 21-30 harvested LNs, 79.4% for 31-40 harvested LNs, and 85.2% for ?41 harvested LNs. Thirty harvested LNs was regarded as the optimal critical point of classification, considering the 5-year OS rate. The number of harvested LNs was selected as a significant prognostic factor in both univariate and multivariate analyses. The respective 3- and 5-year OS rates were 50.3% and 36.7% for <30 harvested LNs and 82.4% and 82.4% for ?30 harvested LNs (p=0.003). CONCLUSION:Thirty or more harvested LNs was a significant prognostic factor in patients with metastasis-negative LNs after curative esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Therefore, the number of harvested LNs might be useful for predicting the LN metastasis status in esophageal cancer.

SUBMITTER: Aoyama T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7439900 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature