Should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients? A retrospective study

Abstract Purpose Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an extremely deadly cancer with high recurrence incidence, particularly in patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM). The necessity of lymphadenectomy including lymph node biology (LNB) and dissection (LND) during ICC radical surgery remains...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ruoyu Zhang, Dayong Cao, Min Yang, Jiajun Zhang, Feng Ye, Ning Huang, Mei Liu, Bo Chen, Liming Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-025-06148-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849699152436396032
author Ruoyu Zhang
Dayong Cao
Min Yang
Jiajun Zhang
Feng Ye
Ning Huang
Mei Liu
Bo Chen
Liming Wang
author_facet Ruoyu Zhang
Dayong Cao
Min Yang
Jiajun Zhang
Feng Ye
Ning Huang
Mei Liu
Bo Chen
Liming Wang
author_sort Ruoyu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an extremely deadly cancer with high recurrence incidence, particularly in patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM). The necessity of lymphadenectomy including lymph node biology (LNB) and dissection (LND) during ICC radical surgery remains debate. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the patients diagnosed with ICC and underwent radical surgery at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2012 to 2023. Results A total of 308 ICC patients were involved in this study. pLNM+ group had poorer OS (P < 0.0001) and poorer DFS (P < 0.0001) compared with pLNM− group. Compared to the LN− group, LN+ group exhibited worse OS (P = 0.038) and worse DFS (P = 0.003). After PSM and IPTW, compared with LN− group, LNB exhibited longer operation time (IPTW: P = 0.0024) and longer hospitalization days (IPTW: P = 0.0112) with no significant differences in complications, DFS, and OS. Compared with LN− group, LND group had no better DFS and OS, only more complications (IPTW: P = 0.0191), longer operation time (all P < 0.001), higher risk of bleeding (all P < 0.05), transfusion (IPTW: P = 0.014) and longer hospitalization days (IPTW: P = 0.0044). Compared with LNB group, LND had longer operation time (P = 0.0227), higher risk of bleeding (P = 0.017) and transfusion (P = 0.0321), and more postoperative complications (P = 0.0425), with no difference in DFS and OS. Conclusion Lymphadenectomy does not necessarily provide long-term survival or recurrence benefits. LND only achieves the effect of LNB while negatively affects postoperative recovery without survival benefit for ICC patients. LNB can be performed for accurate pathological staging while not all patients may require LND based on their specific circumstances.
format Article
id doaj-art-add607da7742438aa017581a05fc07fa
institution DOAJ
issn 1432-1335
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
spelling doaj-art-add607da7742438aa017581a05fc07fa2025-08-20T03:18:42ZengSpringerJournal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology1432-13352025-03-01151312210.1007/s00432-025-06148-3Should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients? A retrospective studyRuoyu Zhang0Dayong Cao1Min Yang2Jiajun Zhang3Feng Ye4Ning Huang5Mei Liu6Bo Chen7Liming Wang8Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Radiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeLaboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeAbstract Purpose Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an extremely deadly cancer with high recurrence incidence, particularly in patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM). The necessity of lymphadenectomy including lymph node biology (LNB) and dissection (LND) during ICC radical surgery remains debate. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the patients diagnosed with ICC and underwent radical surgery at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2012 to 2023. Results A total of 308 ICC patients were involved in this study. pLNM+ group had poorer OS (P < 0.0001) and poorer DFS (P < 0.0001) compared with pLNM− group. Compared to the LN− group, LN+ group exhibited worse OS (P = 0.038) and worse DFS (P = 0.003). After PSM and IPTW, compared with LN− group, LNB exhibited longer operation time (IPTW: P = 0.0024) and longer hospitalization days (IPTW: P = 0.0112) with no significant differences in complications, DFS, and OS. Compared with LN− group, LND group had no better DFS and OS, only more complications (IPTW: P = 0.0191), longer operation time (all P < 0.001), higher risk of bleeding (all P < 0.05), transfusion (IPTW: P = 0.014) and longer hospitalization days (IPTW: P = 0.0044). Compared with LNB group, LND had longer operation time (P = 0.0227), higher risk of bleeding (P = 0.017) and transfusion (P = 0.0321), and more postoperative complications (P = 0.0425), with no difference in DFS and OS. Conclusion Lymphadenectomy does not necessarily provide long-term survival or recurrence benefits. LND only achieves the effect of LNB while negatively affects postoperative recovery without survival benefit for ICC patients. LNB can be performed for accurate pathological staging while not all patients may require LND based on their specific circumstances.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-025-06148-3Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomaInverse probability of treatment weighted analysisHepatologyLymph node biologyLymph node dissectionPropensity score matching analysis
spellingShingle Ruoyu Zhang
Dayong Cao
Min Yang
Jiajun Zhang
Feng Ye
Ning Huang
Mei Liu
Bo Chen
Liming Wang
Should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients? A retrospective study
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Inverse probability of treatment weighted analysis
Hepatology
Lymph node biology
Lymph node dissection
Propensity score matching analysis
title Should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients? A retrospective study
title_full Should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients? A retrospective study
title_fullStr Should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients? A retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients? A retrospective study
title_short Should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients? A retrospective study
title_sort should lymphadenectomy be recommended in radical surgery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients a retrospective study
topic Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Inverse probability of treatment weighted analysis
Hepatology
Lymph node biology
Lymph node dissection
Propensity score matching analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-025-06148-3
work_keys_str_mv AT ruoyuzhang shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy
AT dayongcao shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy
AT minyang shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy
AT jiajunzhang shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy
AT fengye shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy
AT ninghuang shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy
AT meiliu shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy
AT bochen shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy
AT limingwang shouldlymphadenectomyberecommendedinradicalsurgeryofintrahepaticcholangiocarcinomapatientsaretrospectivestudy