Evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights from lymph node metastatic stations

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a globally prevalent malignancy with distinct regional variations, particularly concentrated in East Asia, including China and Japan. The Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) system offers simplicity but la...

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Main Authors: Kexun Li, Simiao Lu, Jie Mao, Yongtao Han, Lin Peng, Xuefeng Leng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1621862/full
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author Kexun Li
Kexun Li
Simiao Lu
Simiao Lu
Jie Mao
Yongtao Han
Lin Peng
Xuefeng Leng
author_facet Kexun Li
Kexun Li
Simiao Lu
Simiao Lu
Jie Mao
Yongtao Han
Lin Peng
Xuefeng Leng
author_sort Kexun Li
collection DOAJ
description Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a globally prevalent malignancy with distinct regional variations, particularly concentrated in East Asia, including China and Japan. The Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) system offers simplicity but lacks emphasis on anatomical specificity, such as upper mediastinal metastases. Conversely, the Japan Esophageal Society (JES) system provides detailed regional stratification, aiding preoperative planning and tailored therapy, though it demands greater clinical expertise. This review evaluates the current state of pathological lymph node staging systems for ESCC, comparing the UICC/AJCC and JES approaches and exploring emerging trends in China toward station-based staging.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 2234-943X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-5f25b80301954e57a142bb2fc73fe9ce2025-08-20T03:09:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-07-011510.3389/fonc.2025.16218621621862Evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights from lymph node metastatic stationsKexun Li0Kexun Li1Simiao Lu2Simiao Lu3Jie Mao4Yongtao Han5Lin Peng6Xuefeng Leng7Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Sichuan Cancer Hospital), Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery I, Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital), Kunming, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Sichuan Cancer Hospital), Chengdu, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery I, Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital), Kunming, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Sichuan Cancer Hospital), Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Sichuan Cancer Hospital), Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Sichuan Cancer Hospital), Chengdu, ChinaEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a globally prevalent malignancy with distinct regional variations, particularly concentrated in East Asia, including China and Japan. The Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) system offers simplicity but lacks emphasis on anatomical specificity, such as upper mediastinal metastases. Conversely, the Japan Esophageal Society (JES) system provides detailed regional stratification, aiding preoperative planning and tailored therapy, though it demands greater clinical expertise. This review evaluates the current state of pathological lymph node staging systems for ESCC, comparing the UICC/AJCC and JES approaches and exploring emerging trends in China toward station-based staging.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1621862/fullesophageal squamous cell carcinomapathological n-categorylymph nodeprognosisUICC/AJCCJES
spellingShingle Kexun Li
Kexun Li
Simiao Lu
Simiao Lu
Jie Mao
Yongtao Han
Lin Peng
Xuefeng Leng
Evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights from lymph node metastatic stations
Frontiers in Oncology
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
pathological n-category
lymph node
prognosis
UICC/AJCC
JES
title Evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights from lymph node metastatic stations
title_full Evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights from lymph node metastatic stations
title_fullStr Evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights from lymph node metastatic stations
title_full_unstemmed Evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights from lymph node metastatic stations
title_short Evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights from lymph node metastatic stations
title_sort evolution of lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma insights from lymph node metastatic stations
topic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
pathological n-category
lymph node
prognosis
UICC/AJCC
JES
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1621862/full
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