Prognostic impact of lymph node harvest for patients with node-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a large-scale multicenter study

Abstract Background Although the incidence of lymph node (LN) metastasis (LNM) along the left gastric artery is high, its relationship with the prognosis in postoperative patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is rarely reported. This study clarified the prognostic impact of LNM along the left gastric artery in postoperative patients with ESCC. Methods This study assessed data of 1521 patients with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between March 1992 and March 2012. A chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to explore the preliminary correlation between clinical factors and LNM along the left gastric artery. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess whether LNM along the left gastric artery was an independent predictor of overall survival. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log-rank test were used to present a classifying effect based on LN status. Results LNM was observed in 598 patients (39.3%) and was found along the branches of the left gastric artery in 256 patients (16.8%). The patients were classified into two groups based on the presence of LNM along the left gastric artery. Patients without LNM along the left gastric artery had better cancer-specific survival than those with positive LNs (P < 0.001). Conclusions This study indicated that LNM along the left gastric artery was an important independent prognostic factor for long-term survival among ESCC patients (P = 0.011).

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FA06.02: OPTIMAL EXTENT OF LYMPH NODE DISSECTION FOR ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Diseases of the Esophagus ◽

10.1093/dote/doy089.fa06.02 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 11-12

Author(s):

Long-Qi Chen ◽

Yu-Shang Yang

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Lymph Node ◽

Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Lymph Nodes ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Positive Lymph Node ◽

Node Negative ◽

Kaplan Meier

Abstract Background The possible presence of occult tumor dissemination is the rationale of radical systematic lymphadenectomy. Theoretically, the more extent of lymphadenectomy, the more similar survival outcomes between node-negative and node-positive patients. Accordingly, there will be a certain number of examined lymph nodes (NELN) for patients with only one tumor-positive lymph node that can equal their survival with the node-negative patients, and this cut-off point should be define the minimal requirement for an adequate extent of lymphadenectomy. The aim of this report was to determine the optimal number of examined lymph nodes (NELN) dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by this novel method. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 589 ESCC patients from June 2011 and July 2012. Among them, 372 patients were pathologically confirmed with node-negative (N 0 + ), and 217 patients with only one tumor-positive lymph node (N 1 + ). Comparison of overall survival were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression hazard model was used for multivariate analysis to assess the independent influence of NELN on overall survival. Results The median survival for N 0 + and N 1 + patients was 32 versus 23 months (HR 1.61; 95% CI 22.86- 29.148; P = 0.000). Survival analyses revealed that the NELN positively correlated with overall survival (OS) both for patients with N 0- (P = 0.024) and N 1 + (P = 0.046), and an independent prognostic predictor only for N 0 + patients (hazard ratio 0.984; P = 0.032). When the cut-off point of NELN was set as a value less than 18, stratum analysis within the Kaplan–Meier method showed that NELN did not affect the results that N 1 + patients have a worse overall survival as compared with N 0 + patients (P < 0.05). However, stratum analysis showed that no significant difference in OS was observed between N 1 + and N 0 + patients when the NELN was greater than 18. Conclusion The NELN should be considered a mandatory requirement for improving the OS of ESCC patients. The minimum of 18 lymph nodes removed for ESCC is rational and should be complied with. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

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