Cristina Díaz Del Arco1, Lourdes Estrada Muñoz2, Andrés Sánchez Pernaute3, Luis Ortega Medina4, Soledad García Gómez de Las Heras5, Ricardo García Martínez3, Mª Jesús Fernández Aceñero6. 1. Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Séneca 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Hospital Clínico San Carlos, c/Profesor Martín Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: crisdelarco@gmail.com. 2. Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, Av. De Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain; Rey Juan Carlos Hospital, c/Gladiolo s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Mardrid, Spain. 3. Hospital Clínico San Carlos, c/Profesor Martín Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. 4. Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Séneca 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Hospital Clínico San Carlos, c/Profesor Martín Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. 5. Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, Av. De Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. 6. Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Séneca 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, c/Dr. Esquerdo n° 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer (GC) shows high recurrence and mortality rates. The AJCC TNM staging system is the best prognostic predictor, but lymph node assessment is a major source of controversy. Recent studies have found that lymph node ratio (LNR) may overcome TNM limitations. Our aim is to develop a simplified tumor-LNR (T-LNR) classification for predicting prognosis of resected GC. METHODS: Retrospective study of all GC resected in a tertiary center in Spain (N = 377). Clinicopathological features were assessed, LNR was classified into N0:0%, N1:1-25%, N2:>25%, and a T-LNR classification was developed. Statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: 317 patients were finally included. Most patients were male (54.6%) and mean age was 72 years. Tumors were intestinal (61%), diffuse (30.8%) or mixed (8.1%). During follow-up, 36.7% and 27.4% of patients progressed and died, respectively. T-LNR classification divided patients into five prognostic categories (S1-S5). Most cases were S1-S4 (26.2%, 19.9%, 22.6% and 23.6%, respectively). 7.6% of tumors were S5. T-LNR classification was significantly associated with tumor size, depth, macroscopical type, Laurén subtype, signet ring cells, histologic grade, lymphovascular invasion, perineural infiltration, infiltrative growth, patient progression and death. Kaplan-Meier curves for OS showed an excellent patient stratification with evenly spaced curves. As for DFS, T-LNR classification also showed good discriminatory ability with non-overlapping curves. T-LNR classification was independently related to both OS and DFS. CONCLUSIONS: T-LNR classifications can successfully predict prognosis of GC patients. Larger studies in other geographic regions should be performed to refine this classification and to validate its prognostic relevance.
INTRODUCTION:Gastric cancer (GC) shows high recurrence and mortality rates. The AJCC TNM staging system is the best prognostic predictor, but lymph node assessment is a major source of controversy. Recent studies have found that lymph node ratio (LNR) may overcome TNM limitations. Our aim is to develop a simplified tumor-LNR (T-LNR) classification for predicting prognosis of resected GC. METHODS: Retrospective study of all GC resected in a tertiary center in Spain (N = 377). Clinicopathological features were assessed, LNR was classified into N0:0%, N1:1-25%, N2:>25%, and a T-LNR classification was developed. Statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: 317 patients were finally included. Most patients were male (54.6%) and mean age was 72 years. Tumors were intestinal (61%), diffuse (30.8%) or mixed (8.1%). During follow-up, 36.7% and 27.4% of patients progressed and died, respectively. T-LNR classification divided patients into five prognostic categories (S1-S5). Most cases were S1-S4 (26.2%, 19.9%, 22.6% and 23.6%, respectively). 7.6% of tumors were S5. T-LNR classification was significantly associated with tumor size, depth, macroscopical type, Laurén subtype, signet ring cells, histologic grade, lymphovascular invasion, perineural infiltration, infiltrative growth, patient progression and death. Kaplan-Meier curves for OS showed an excellent patient stratification with evenly spaced curves. As for DFS, T-LNR classification also showed good discriminatory ability with non-overlapping curves. T-LNR classification was independently related to both OS and DFS. CONCLUSIONS: T-LNR classifications can successfully predict prognosis of GC patients. Larger studies in other geographic regions should be performed to refine this classification and to validate its prognostic relevance.