Prognostic Impact of the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study

Background. Evaluation of lymph node status is critical in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) treatment. However, as patients with node involvement may be incorrectly classified into earlier stages if the examined lymph node (ELN) number is too small and escape adjuvant therapy, especially for stage II CRC....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Purun Lei, Ying Ruan, Jianpei Liu, Qixian Zhang, Xiao Tang, Juekun Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8065972
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850233432589729792
author Purun Lei
Ying Ruan
Jianpei Liu
Qixian Zhang
Xiao Tang
Juekun Wu
author_facet Purun Lei
Ying Ruan
Jianpei Liu
Qixian Zhang
Xiao Tang
Juekun Wu
author_sort Purun Lei
collection DOAJ
description Background. Evaluation of lymph node status is critical in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) treatment. However, as patients with node involvement may be incorrectly classified into earlier stages if the examined lymph node (ELN) number is too small and escape adjuvant therapy, especially for stage II CRC. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of the ELN on the survival of patients with stage II colorectal cancer and to determine the optimal number. Methods. Data from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database on stage II resected CRC (1988-2013) were extracted for mathematical modeling as ELN was available since 1988. Relationship between ELN count and stage migration and disease-specific survival was analyzed by using multivariable models. The series of the mean positive LNs, odds ratios (ORs), and hazard ratios (HRs) were fitted with a LOWESS (Locally Weighted Scatterplot Smoothing) smoother, and the structural break points were determined by the Chow test. An independent cohort of cases from 2014 was retrieved for validation in 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS). Results. An increased ELN count was associated with a higher possibility of metastasis LN detection (OR 1.010, CI 1.009-1.011, p<0.001) and better DSS in LN negative patients (OR 0.976, CI 0.975-0.977, p<0.001). The cut-off point analysis showed a threshold ELN count of 21 nodes (HR 0.692, CI 0.667-0.719, p<0.001) and was validated with significantly better DSS in the SEER 2009 cohort CRC (OR 0.657, CI 0.522-0.827, p<0.001). The cut-off value of the ELN count in site-specific surgeries was analyzed as 20 nodes in the right hemicolectomy (HR 0.674, CI 0.638-0.713, p<0.001), 19 nodes in left hemicolectomy (HR 0.691, CI 0.639-0.749, p<0.001), and 20 nodes in rectal resection patients (HR 0.671, CI 0.604-0.746, p<0.001), respectively. Conclusions. A higher number of ELNs are associated with more-accurate node staging and better prognosis in stage II CRCs. We recommend that at least 21 lymph nodes be examined for accurate diagnosis of stage II colorectal cancer.
format Article
id doaj-art-0c563df05bc54e1ca72b9f37637675eb
institution OA Journals
issn 1687-6121
1687-630X
language English
publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Gastroenterology Research and Practice
spelling doaj-art-0c563df05bc54e1ca72b9f37637675eb2025-08-20T02:02:55ZengWileyGastroenterology Research and Practice1687-61211687-630X2020-01-01202010.1155/2020/80659728065972Prognostic Impact of the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective StudyPurun Lei0Ying Ruan1Jianpei Liu2Qixian Zhang3Xiao Tang4Juekun Wu5Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaMedical Record Management Section, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaBackground. Evaluation of lymph node status is critical in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) treatment. However, as patients with node involvement may be incorrectly classified into earlier stages if the examined lymph node (ELN) number is too small and escape adjuvant therapy, especially for stage II CRC. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of the ELN on the survival of patients with stage II colorectal cancer and to determine the optimal number. Methods. Data from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database on stage II resected CRC (1988-2013) were extracted for mathematical modeling as ELN was available since 1988. Relationship between ELN count and stage migration and disease-specific survival was analyzed by using multivariable models. The series of the mean positive LNs, odds ratios (ORs), and hazard ratios (HRs) were fitted with a LOWESS (Locally Weighted Scatterplot Smoothing) smoother, and the structural break points were determined by the Chow test. An independent cohort of cases from 2014 was retrieved for validation in 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS). Results. An increased ELN count was associated with a higher possibility of metastasis LN detection (OR 1.010, CI 1.009-1.011, p<0.001) and better DSS in LN negative patients (OR 0.976, CI 0.975-0.977, p<0.001). The cut-off point analysis showed a threshold ELN count of 21 nodes (HR 0.692, CI 0.667-0.719, p<0.001) and was validated with significantly better DSS in the SEER 2009 cohort CRC (OR 0.657, CI 0.522-0.827, p<0.001). The cut-off value of the ELN count in site-specific surgeries was analyzed as 20 nodes in the right hemicolectomy (HR 0.674, CI 0.638-0.713, p<0.001), 19 nodes in left hemicolectomy (HR 0.691, CI 0.639-0.749, p<0.001), and 20 nodes in rectal resection patients (HR 0.671, CI 0.604-0.746, p<0.001), respectively. Conclusions. A higher number of ELNs are associated with more-accurate node staging and better prognosis in stage II CRCs. We recommend that at least 21 lymph nodes be examined for accurate diagnosis of stage II colorectal cancer.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8065972
spellingShingle Purun Lei
Ying Ruan
Jianpei Liu
Qixian Zhang
Xiao Tang
Juekun Wu
Prognostic Impact of the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
title Prognostic Impact of the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study
title_full Prognostic Impact of the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study
title_fullStr Prognostic Impact of the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study
title_full_unstemmed Prognostic Impact of the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study
title_short Prognostic Impact of the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study
title_sort prognostic impact of the number of examined lymph nodes in stage ii colorectal adenocarcinoma a retrospective study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8065972
work_keys_str_mv AT purunlei prognosticimpactofthenumberofexaminedlymphnodesinstageiicolorectaladenocarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT yingruan prognosticimpactofthenumberofexaminedlymphnodesinstageiicolorectaladenocarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT jianpeiliu prognosticimpactofthenumberofexaminedlymphnodesinstageiicolorectaladenocarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT qixianzhang prognosticimpactofthenumberofexaminedlymphnodesinstageiicolorectaladenocarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT xiaotang prognosticimpactofthenumberofexaminedlymphnodesinstageiicolorectaladenocarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT juekunwu prognosticimpactofthenumberofexaminedlymphnodesinstageiicolorectaladenocarcinomaaretrospectivestudy