Survival Based On The Pathologic Lymph Node Ratio For Local Advanced Gastric Cancer; Elderly Patients Versus Non Elderly Patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic value of the pathological lymph node ratio for elderly and non-elderly gastric cancer patients and to evaluate whether there is a difference in the survival of patients with the same LNR (Lymph Node Ratio).Materials and Methods: A total of 222 patients diagnosed with locally advanced gastric cancer and who underwent gastrectomy were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to age. Clinicopathological properties of the two groups were compared. Potential prognostic factors affecting survival were analyzed. Subsequently, the effect of lymphadenectomy and LNR on survival in both groups was evaluated. Results: Significant differences were detected in terms of the location of primary lesions, hemoglobin and albumin levels between elderly patients and non-elderly patients (p < .05). Overall survival (OS) was significantly worse in elderly patients (22 months vs. 67 months, p<0.001). The survival rates in elderly patients were significantly lower from those of non-elderly in the subgroup LNR Stage 2 (12.1% vs. 47.9 %, P = 0.004) and LNR Stage 3 classification (9.1% vs. 34.1%, P = 0.039). LNR was found to be significant for OS with a cut-off point of 0.18. Conclusion: A survival difference was found between the elderly and non-elderly patients with the same LNR. LNR was found to be an independent factor for survival especially in elderly patients. Survival was found to be further decreased in elderly patients compared to non-elderly patients with increasing LNR.

Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio for Predicting Recurrence in Medullary Thyroid Cancer

The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been investigated as a prognostic factor in many different types of cancers, including differentiated thyroid cancer; however, reports regarding medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) are limited. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate LNR as a risk factor for structural recurrence in patients with MTC. Medical records of patients treated for MTC in a single tertiary center between 1995 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. LNR is defined as the number of metastatic lymph nodes or lymph node metastases (LNM) divided by the number of retrieved lymph nodes or lymph node yield (LNY). In the survival analysis, recurrence-free survival was defined as the time from the date of total thyroidectomy to recurrence or last follow-up. To identify risk factors influencing structural recurrence, univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used. A total of 132 patients were enrolled. The mean age of study participants was 49.7 years, and 86 patients (65%) were women. Structural recurrence was identified in 39 patients at the end of the study period, and the median follow-up period was 8.7 years. In univariable analyses, gross extra thyroidal extension, N stage, postoperative serum calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, and LNR were significant (p < 0.05) predictors of structural recurrence. In multivariable analysis, postoperative serum calcitonin, postoperative serum CEA, and LNR were identified as a predictor of disease-free survival (p < 0.05). LNR can potentially predict structural recurrence as a quantitative evaluation tool for lymph node metastasis in patients with MTC.

Lymph node ratio as a predictor for minor salivary gland cancer in head and neck

Background We investigate whether pathological continuous variables of lymph nodes were related with survival results of carcinomas of minor salivary gland carcinoma in head and neck. Methods Forty-four cases with minor salivary gland carcinoma who underwent both primary resection and neck dissection were retrospectively enrolled. The pathological continuous variables were evaluated by the number of positive lymph nodes, lymph node ratio, and log odds of positive lymph nodes. Receiver operating curve analysis was used for the cut-off values of the carcinoma-specific death. Log-rank test and Cox’s proportional hazards model were used for uni−/multi-variate survival analyses adjusting for pathological stage, respectively. Results Lymph node ratio = 0.05 as well as log odds of positive lymph nodes = − 2.73 predicted the carcinoma-specific death. Both lymph node ratio and log odds of positive lymph nodes were significantly related with survival outcomes by the univariate analysis. Lymph node ratio ≥ 0.05 was associated with shorter disease-specific (hazard ratio = 7.90, 95% confidence interval = 1.54–57.1), disease-free (hazard ratio = 4.15, 95% confidence interval = 1.48–11.2) and overall (hazard ratio = 4.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.05–24.8) survival in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion A higher lymph node ratio of minor salivary gland carcinoma is a predictor of shorter survival results.

Assessment on the Prognostic Validity of Dissected and Positive Lymph Node Counts and Lymph Node Ratio in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Multi-central Cohort Study

Background: Adequate treatment for all resectable early gastric cancers (EGCs) is gastrectomy with regional lymphadenectomy. The number of positive resected lymph nodes during lymphadenectomy can be a reliable predictor of survival of GC. Objectives: We aimed at assessing the prognostic significance of Dissected Lymph Node Count (DLNC), positive LNC (PLNC), and Lymph Node Ratio (LNR) in patients with EGC. Methods: In the current retrospective cohort, 201 patients with resectable EGC were included. Demographic variables, clinicopathological characteristics of tumors (including numbers of total dissected nodes and positive, negative nodes), history of receiving adjuvant cancer therapies, and 1- and 5-year survivals were noted. Results: DLNC, PLNC, and LNR were associated with differentiation and depth of tumor, lymph node status, and risk of death (P-value for all < 0.05). There was no correlation between either of these measures with preoperative symptoms, lymphovascular invasion, and recurrence. DLNC, PLNC, and LNR showed prognostic significance only in patients, who did not receive comprehensive therapy (P-value < 0.001 for all). A significantly higher LNR was seen in patients with more than 1-year survival compared to others (P-value = 0.011). A significantly lower DLNC and higher PLNC were seen in patients, who survived over 5 years (P-value of 0.002 and 0.047, respectively). Conclusions: LNR, DLNC, and PLNC are significant prognostic factors for EGC. According to our findings, choosing the optimal approach, through which fewer negative lymph nodes are dissected, is crucial in increasing overall survival and extended lymphadenectomy cannot necessarily benefit patients.