INTRODUCTION: The depth of the tumor invasion and nodal involvement are the two main prognostic factors in gastric cancer. Staging systems differ among countries and new tools are needed to interpret and compare results and to reduce stage migration. The node ratio (NR) has been proposed as a new prognostic factor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 282 patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer at Parma University Hospital between 2000 and 2007. TNM stage, NR, overall survival, survival according to nodal status, and survival according to the total number of nodes retrieved were calculated. RESULTS: At univariate analysis, the TNM stage, number of metastatic nodes, NR, and depth of tumor invasion, but not the number of nodes retrieved, were significant prognosis factors. Patients with more than 15 nodes retrieved in the specimen survived significantly longer (p < 0.04). This was confirmed for all N or NR classes within N groups. There was a correlation between the number of nodes retrieved and N but not with the NR category. NR was an independent prognostic factor at Cox regression. CONCLUSION: NR is a reliable and sensitive tool to differentiate patients with similar characteristics, probably more so than the TNM system. NR is not strictly related to the number of nodes retrieved and this may potentially decrease the stage migration phenomenon. More trials are needed to validate this factor.
INTRODUCTION: The depth of the tumor invasion and nodal involvement are the two main prognostic factors in gastric cancer. Staging systems differ among countries and new tools are needed to interpret and compare results and to reduce stage migration. The node ratio (NR) has been proposed as a new prognostic factor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 282 patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer at Parma University Hospital between 2000 and 2007. TNM stage, NR, overall survival, survival according to nodal status, and survival according to the total number of nodes retrieved were calculated. RESULTS: At univariate analysis, the TNM stage, number of metastatic nodes, NR, and depth of tumor invasion, but not the number of nodes retrieved, were significant prognosis factors. Patients with more than 15 nodes retrieved in the specimen survived significantly longer (p < 0.04). This was confirmed for all N or NR classes within N groups. There was a correlation between the number of nodes retrieved and N but not with the NR category. NR was an independent prognostic factor at Cox regression. CONCLUSION: NR is a reliable and sensitive tool to differentiate patients with similar characteristics, probably more so than the TNM system. NR is not strictly related to the number of nodes retrieved and this may potentially decrease the stage migration phenomenon. More trials are needed to validate this factor.
Authors: J J Bonenkamp; J Hermans; M Sasako; C J van de Velde; K Welvaart; I Songun; S Meyer; J T Plukker; P Van Elk; H Obertop; D J Gouma; J J van Lanschot; C W Taat; P W de Graaf; M F von Meyenfeldt; H Tilanus Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1999-03-25 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Ibrahim Sakcak; Barış Doğu Yıldız; Fatih Mehmet Avşar; Saadet Akturan; Kemal Kilic; Erdal Cosgun; Enver O Hamamci Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2011-09-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Mario Giuffrida; Lorenzo Viani; Gioacchino Giovanni Iapichino; Federico Cozzani; Paolo Dell'Abate; Paolo Del Rio Journal: Acta Biomed Date: 2021-11-03