PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “lymph node metastasis”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Elective neck irradiation on ipsilateral side in patients with early tongue cancer for high-risk group with late cervical lymph node metastasis.

A prospective study was performed to assess the efficacy of elective neck irradiation (ENI) on the ipsilateral side in patients with early tongue cancer among a high-risk group with late cervical lymph node metastasis. Patients in the high-risk group had T2-tumors, excluding superficials or T1-tumors > or =19 mm in maximal diameter with invasion or ulcer. Between February 1989 and October 1997, 70 patients with tongue cancer of Stages I and II were enrolled in the present study (ENI group: 31, non-ENI group: 39). In a combination therapy of external beam irradiation and brachytherapy, the standard dose of interstitial brachytherapy for primary tumors was approximately 60 Gy. Irradiation was initiated with a 9-MeV electron beam at a dose of 50 Gy on the ipsilateral side of the neck only when the day of brachytherapy approached. Three patients (9.7%) in the ENI group had neck lymph node metastasis as did 5 (12.8%) in the non-ENI group (p= 0.684). In patients with ulceration, the incidence of subsequent lymph node metastasis was significantly higher (p=0.029). Neck lymph node metastasis occurred in 2 (16.7%) of 12 patients with ulcers in the ENI group and in 2 (66.7%) of 3 with ulcers in the non-ENI group. Although we could not demonstrate the significant efficacy of ENI in the high-risk group in this study, ENI decreased the neck lymph node metastasis. In addition, our results suggested that ENI particularly inhibits cervical lymph node metastasis in tongue tumor patients with ulcers.

Adult↗

Location of early colorectal cancers at fold-top may reduce the risk of lymph node metastasis.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to look for significant correlations between location of early colorectal cancer, distance from muscularis mucosae to muscularis propria, and the frequency of lymph node metastasis. METHODS: A total of 166 early colorectal cancers, including 67 surgically resected lesions, were evaluated. The cancers were divided into two groups: metastatic and nonmetastatic. Cancer lesions were further subtyped at the fold-top or fold-bottom. Macroscopic classifications and histology were performed. Absolute invasive depth and distance from muscularis mucosae to muscularis propria was measured. Multivariate analysis was used to assess relationships among the variables. RESULTS: The percentage of polypoid cancer lesions at fold-bottom was higher than at fold-top (74.5 vs. 51.8 percent), whereas flat-type cancer lesions at fold-bottom occurred less often than at fold-top (8.2 vs. 30.4 percent). Logistic regression showed that deep absolute invasive depth, lymphatic and vessel invasion, and cancer location (at fold-bottom) were the significant risk factors for early colorectal cancers leading to lymph-node metastasis. The distance from muscularis mucosae to muscularis propria with lymph-node metastasis (1,396.7 +/- 728.4 microm) was shorter than without lymph-node metastasis (3,533.9 +/- 2,507.8 microm; P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that distance from muscularis mucosae to muscularis propria was a statistically significant factor for early colorectal cancers leading to lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0054). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that early colorectal cancers at the fold-top or with a long distance from muscularis mucosae to muscularis propria have less tendency to metastasize to lymph nodes. Clinically, these results provide evidence of a new indicator of endoscopic mucosal resection for early colorectal cancers at the fold-top.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

[Expressions of survivin and nm23 and the relationship among the expressions and the axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of Survivin protein and nm23 protein and the relationship among the expressions and axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. METHODS: The expression of Survivin and nm23 in 80 cases of breast cancer tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry SP method, and their correlation with axillary lymph node metastasis and 5-year disease free survival (DFS) were analysed. RESULTS: Survivin protein positive expression rate was 68.75% (55/80) in breast cancer tissues, which had positive correlation with the axillary lymph nodes metastasis but negative correlation with 5 years FS (P < 0.05); nm23 protein expression had negative correlation with the axillary lymph nodes metastasis but positive to 5 years FS (P < 0.05). Survivin and nm23 proteins expression had no obvious correlation with the breast cancer pathology type, patient age and clinical stage (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The anti-apoptosis effect of Survivin protein and the anti-metastasis effect of nm23 protein may be important in the occurrence and advancement of breast cancer, suggesting that it may be a new indicator of prognostic and judgement in breast cancer.

Adult↗

Global expression-based classification of lymph node metastasis and extracapsular spread of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Regional lymph node metastasis is a critical event in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) progression. The identification of biomarkers associated with the metastatic process would provide critical prognostic information to facilitate clinical decision making for improved management of OTSCC patients. Global expressional profiles were obtained for 25 primary OTSCCs, where 11 cases showed lymph node metastasis (pN+) histologically and 14 cases were nonmetastatic (pN-). Seven of pN+ cases also exhibited extracapsular spread (ECS) of metastatic nodes. Multiple expression indices were used to generate signature gene sets for pN+/- and ECS+/- cases. Selected genes from signature gene sets were validated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The classification powers of these genes were then evaluated using a logistic model, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and leave-one-out cross-validation. qRT-PCR validation data showed that differences at RNA levels are either statistically significant (P < .05) or suggestive (P < .1) for six of eight genes tested (BMP2, CTTN, EEF1A1, GTSE1, MMP9, and EGFR) for pN+/- cases, and for five of eight genes tested (BMP2, CTTN, EEF1A1, MMP9, and EGFR) for ECS+/- cases. Logistic models with specific combinations of genes (CTTN+MMP9+EGFR for pN and CTTN+EEF1A1+MMP9 for ECS) achieved perfect specificity and sensitivity. Leave-one-out cross-validation showed overall accuracy rates of 85% for both pN and ECS prediction models. Our results demonstrated that the pN and the ECS of OTSCCs can be predicted by gene expression analyses of primary tumors.

Adult↗

Lymph node metastasis from melanoma with an unknown primary site.

Twenty-six patients, treated surgically between 1961 and 1986 because of lymph node metastasis from melanoma with an unknown primary, were analysed. Six patients had a history of spontaneous regression of a skin lesion. Following node dissection, the overall actuarial disease-free survival rate was 49 per cent, after both 5 and 10 years. When considered as single factors, female (versus male), one lymph node involved (versus more than one node involved) and site of metastasis in the groin or axilla (versus the neck) were found to have significantly favourable effects on prognosis with 5-year survival rates of 82 per cent (25 per cent), 82 per cent (27 per cent) and 80 per cent (11 per cent) respectively. However, at multifactorial analysis only the site of cervical metastases maintained a significant influence on survival (P = 0.005). As survival in this series is comparable with, or even better than, that of adequately treated patients with lymph node metastasis from a known primary melanoma, a radical node dissection is essential also in these patients.

Adult↗

Lymph node metastasis and macroscopic features in early gastric cancer.

The relationship between macroscopic features and the frequency and extent of lymph node metastasis was examined retrospectively in 421 patients with early gastric cancer. Nodal involvement was evident in 48 patients (11.4%): 7 out of 204 (3.4%) with mucosal cancer and 41 out of 217 (19.3%) with submucosal lesions. The incidence of metastasis to perigastric nodes and extraperigastric nodes was 2.9% and 0.5% for mucosal cancer, and 13.8% and 5.1% for submucosal cancer, respectively. There was no metastasis in lesions less than 1 cm in diameter, but the incidence of positive nodes increased with the size of the primary lesion. There was a low incidence of lymph node metastasis associated with lesions confined to the mucosa and less than 3 cm in size, elevated types of I and IIa less than 2 cm, and the flat type of IIb, while types consisting of a depressed portion such as IIc, III, IIc + III, and IIa + IIc often had not only perigastric but also extraperigastric nodal involvement, even when the lesion was small. As early gastric cancer can be cured by surgery, this modality is the treatment of choice. Endoscopic therapy in cases with a low involvement of lymph node metastasis can be considered when the patient is in a poor clinical state of health.

Adult↗

Endostatin inhibits lymph node metastasis by a down-regulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor C expression in tumor cells.

Anti-angiogenic therapy is a newly developed treatment method for malignant tumors. Endostatin has an anti-angiogenetic effect. Endostatin has also been shown to block the growth and metastasis of various cancers through the vascular system. However, there have so far been few reports on the relationship between endostatin and lymph node metastasis. In this study, we investigated the relationship between endostatin and the inhibition of lymph node metastasis. We first made recombinant adenovirus which expressed endostatin gene (Ad-end), and then performed the following experiments. Our findings showed Ad-end to inhibit the proliferation and tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, Ad-end inhibited the growth of a human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line (SQUU-B) implanted subcutaneously in the right flank of nude mice and orthotopically in the tongue of nude mice, and Ad-end also inhibited lymph node metastasis in orthotopic implantation. The number of CD31-positive blood vessels and 5'-nase-positive lymphatic vessels around Ad-end-infected tumors in tongue lesions was significantly lower than that in the control group. The down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) in Ad-end-infected SQUU-B cells was recognized by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. These findings suggested that endostatin inhibited lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis by suppressing the production of VEGF-C in tumor cells.

Adenoviridae↗

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression predicts lymph node metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

PURPOSE: It has been found that expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in several carcinomas is significantly associated with angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and regional lymph node metastasis. However, VEGF-C expression in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) has not yet been reported. To elucidate the role of VEGF-C in bladder TCC, we examined VEGF-C expression in bladder TCC and pelvic lymph node metastasis specimens obtained from patients who underwent radical cystectomy. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients who underwent radical cystectomy for clinically organ-confined TCC of the bladder were enrolled in the present study. No neoadjuvant treatments, except transurethral resection of the tumor, were given to these patients. The VEGF-C expressions of 87 bladder tumors and 20 pelvic lymph node metastasis specimens were examined immunohistochemically and the association between VEGF-C expression and clinicopathological factors, including angiogenesis as evaluated by microvessel density (MVD), was also examined. RESULTS: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression was found in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, but not in the normal transitional epithelium. Vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression was significantly associated with the pathological T stage (P = 0.0289), pelvic lymph node metastasis (P < 0.0001), lymphatic involvement (P = 0.0008), venous involvement (P = 0.0002) and high MVD (P = 0.0043). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that VEGF-C expression and high MVD in bladder TCC were independent risk factors influencing the pelvic lymph node metastasis. Moreover, the patients with VEGF-C-positive tumors had significantly poorer prognoses than those with the VEGF-C-negative tumors (P = 0.0087) in the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis based on Cox proportional hazard model showed that the independent prognostic factors were patient age (P = 0.0132) and pelvic lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0333). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that VEGF-C expression is an important predictive factor of pelvic lymph node metastasis in bladder cancer patients.

Age Factors↗

Identification of potential biomarkers of lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma by cDNA microarray analysis.

We surveyed the expression of 557 cancer-related genes in 15 cases of well-differentiated OSCC by cDNA microarray analysis. To identify potential biomarkers for lymph node metastasis, all microarray data were compared by the Mann-Whitney test and the significance analysis of microarrays between OSCCs with and those without lymph node metastasis. The tissues of OSCCs with lymph node metastasis exhibited increased expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, uPA, integrin-alpha3, paxillin, tenascin C and IL-6 transcripts. All of these genes were included in common clusters on the Cluster/TreeView analysis, implying that functional gene groups of proteolytic enzymes and integrin-related molecules are involved in cervical lymph node metastasis. The results of RTQ-PCR for differentially expressed genes were in accord with those of cDNA microarray analyses, suggesting that the data obtained by microarray gene expression analyses were valid. Consistent with cooperative expression patterns, immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that products of MMP-1, MMP-3 and uPA were colocalized to components of the neoplastic stroma, particularly mononuclear inflammatory cells with well-developed eosinophilic cytoplasm. Our results suggest that expression levels of molecules involved in tissue remodeling and cell-ECM adhesion, especially MMP-1 and integrin-alpha3, can provide an accurate biomarker system for predicting the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis in OSCC.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

A hepatocellular carcinoma with lymph node metastasis and invasion into the gallbladder: preoperative difficulty ruling out a gallbladder carcinoma.

We present a case of resected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which invaded the gallbladder with a metastasis to a lymph node. It was extremely difficult to make a differential diagnosis between HCC and gallbladder cancer preoperatively. A 68-year old man was admitted to hospital with complaint of a fever. Ultrasonography (US) and CT scan showed a mass, growing invasively from the gallbladder bed of the liver (S4) to the lumen of the gallbladder. A selective arteriography showed the mass stained by the cholecystic artery, internal branch of the left hepatic artery, and frontal branch of the right hepatic artery. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed the non-visualized gallbladder, a constriction of the common hepatic duct with suspicion of metastatic lymph nodes in the hepatoduodenal ligament. The tumor markers were: alpha-fet-protein 13175 ng/ml, PIVKA-II 26200 mAU/ml and CA19-9 0.0 U/ml. Both HBs antigen and HCV antibody were negative. We performed cholecystectomy with en-block resection of the anterior and middle inferior segment of the liver, the common bile duct and a part of the transverse colon, with dissection of the lymph nodes. The tumor, 8 cm in diameter, was brown colored without a capsule, growing diffusely in the liver, to the inside of the gallbladder and the transverse colon. Histopathological inspection of the specimen revealed moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma with a metastatic lymph node along the common hepatic artery. TNM classification was IVB phase [T3,N0,M1 (LYM,OTH)]. There are only 3 previous cases of HCC reported with invasion into the gallbladder. At most 2.2% of the resected cases of HCC had metastatic lymph nodes at resection, while it was as high as 20-50% of the autopsy cases. Operation on such an invasive HCC case should consider lymph node metastasis.

Aged↗

Suppression of tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 signaling.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) stimulates tumor lymphangiogenesis (i.e., formation of lymphatic vessels) and metastasis to regional lymph nodes by interacting with VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR-3). We sought to determine whether inhibiting VEGFR-3 signaling, and thus tumor lymphangiogenesis, would inhibit tumor metastasis. METHODS: We used the highly metastatic human lung cancer cell line NCI-H460-LNM35 (LNM35) and its parental line NCI-H460-N15 (N15) with low metastatic capacity. We inserted genes by transfection and established a stable N15 cell line secreting VEGF-C and a LNM35 cell line secreting the soluble fusion protein VEGF receptor 3-immunoglobulin (VEGFR-3-Ig, which binds VEGF-C and inhibits VEGFR-3 signaling). Control lines were transfected with mock vectors. Tumor cells were implanted subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficient mice (n = 6 in each group), and tumors and metastases were examined 6 weeks later. In another approach, recombinant adenoviruses expressing VEGFR-3-Ig (AdR3-Ig) or beta-galactosidase (AdLacZ) were injected intravenously into LNM35 tumor-bearing mice (n = 14 and 7, respectively). RESULTS: LNM35 cells expressed higher levels of VEGF-C RNA and protein than did N15 cells. Xenograft mock vector-transfected LNM35 tumors showed more intratumoral lymphatic vessels (15.3 vessels per grid; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 13.3 to 17.4) and more metastases in draining lymph nodes (12 of 12) than VEGFR-3-Ig-transfected LNM35 tumors (4.1 vessels per grid; 95% CI = 3.4 to 4.7; P<.001, two-sided t test; and four lymph nodes with metastases of 12 lymph nodes examined). Lymph node metastasis was also inhibited in AdR3-Ig-treated mice (AdR3-Ig = 0 of 28 lymph nodes; AdLacZ = 11 of 14 lymph nodes). However, metastasis to the lungs occurred in all mice, suggesting that LNM35 cells can also spread via other mechanisms. N15 tumors overexpressing VEGF-C contained more lymphatic vessels than vector-transfected tumors but did not have increased metastatic ability. CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node metastasis appears to be regulated by additional factors besides VEGF-C. Inhibition of VEGFR-3 signaling can suppress tumor lymphangiogenesis and metastasis to regional lymph nodes but not to lungs.

Animals↗

CT of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from maxillary carcinoma.

CT findings for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in 25 patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the maxillary sinus and with no prior treatment were evaluated retrospectively. Four lateral retropharyngeal node metastases (16%, 4/25) could be identified by CT. All retropharyngeal metastatic nodes were located between the ipsilateral internal carotid artery and the longus colli muscle at the level of the first cervical vertebral body. The metastatic nodes ranged from 8 mm to 35 mm in size at the long axis. The risk of retropharyngeal node metastasis depends on the degree of carcinoma involvement to the posterior nasal cavity, the posterior ethmoid sinuses, the sphenoid sinuses, the palate (soft and hard) and the nasopharynx. This study indicates that CT is useful for detecting these lymph node metastases.

Adult↗

Mib-1 proliferation index is an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis in invasive breast cancer: a prospective study on 675 patients.

In order to evaluate the potential risk factors for lymph node metastasis in invasive breast cancer patients submitted to axillary dissection, 675 patients who received surgery between January 1995 and December 2002 were included in a prospective study. In all cases, MIB-1 proliferation index was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Lymph node involvement was found in 248 out of 675 patients. Univariate analysis showed that peritumoral lymphovascular invasion, pT stage, tumor multiplicity, MIB-1 proliferation index >10%, oestrogen receptor status, histological type, tumor grade and progesterone receptor status were related to a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis, with various levels of statistical significance. Multivariate analysis identified lymphovascular invasion [relative risk (RR, 7.69; p<0.001), pT stage (RR, 3.08; p<0.001), tumor multiplicity (RR, 3.89; p<0.001), and MIB-1 proliferation index (RR, 1.66; p=0.019)] as independent predictive variables. The impact of MIB-1 positivity on the incidence of lymph node metastasis was particularly evident in intermediate risk groups (pT1c, pT2 without lymphovascular invasion), as well as in grade-2 tumors. In conclusion, the MIB-1 proliferation index could provide additional information about the risk of lymph node metastasis in invasive breast cancer, and may be useful to identify grade-2 tumors with a more aggressive clinical behaviour.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Lymph node metastasis in breast cancer: common prognostic markers lack predictive value.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether routine biologic tumor markers can predict lymph node status. The authors attempted to discover whether predictors of axillary lymph node metastasis based on biologic characteristic of primary breast cancers exist. METHODS: Eight hundred and fifty-one patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent surgical treatment, including axillary lymph node dissection, at a tertiary referral center were studied. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed on prospectively gathered data from a breast cancer registry, including pathology, site of primary lesion in the breast, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, DNA index, S-phase fraction, nuclear grade, and extensive intraductal component. Outcome was determined by (1) the presence of any lymph node metastasis and (2) the presence of 10 or more lymph node metastases. RESULTS: The only independent predictors of lymph node metastasis were primary tumor size and pathology. For predicting 10 or more metastases, only size and ER-negative status were independent predictors. These factors accounted for less than 20% of the regression, implying that more than 80% of lymph node metastases are not explained by the regression model. Lymph node metastases were seen in 8.3% of T1a, 15.3% of T1b, and 30.7% of T1c lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Biologic tumor markers are not reliable predictors of lymph node metastasis, except possibly for T1a lesions, therefore direct pathologic evaluation of lymph node status cannot be abandoned. Efforts to determine lymph node status through other methods such as sentinel lymph node biopsy are warranted.

Breast Neoplasms↗

[Association of dendritic cell infiltration with prognosis and lymph node metastasis of renal cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation of dendritic cell (DC) infiltration to the prognosis and lymph node metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. METHOD: The tissue specimens were obtained from 69 patients with renal cell carcinomas, who were treated surgically from 1994 to 2000 in our hospital and followed up for over 2 years. ABC immunohistochemical method using S-100 protein antibody was employed to examine the tumor tissues and the DCs was counted. RESULTS: The patients showing no signs of tumor recurrence within 2 years postoperatively had significantly greater number of S-100(+) DCs in the tumor tissues than that of patients with recurrence in 2 years (61.3 +/- 14.7/mm(2) vs 31.4 +/- 11.6/mm(2)). The number of S-100(+) DCs of the group with lymph node metastasis was much lower than that of the group without the metastasis (28.8 +/- 10.4/mm(2) vs 62.6 +/- 13.5/mm(2)). CONCLUSION: The density of DC infiltration is closely related to the prognosis and lymph node metastasis, which may be used as a good indicator for prognostic assessment of renal cell carcinoma.

Adult↗

Heme oxygenase-1 expression predicts cervical lymph node metastasis of tongue squamous cell carcinomas.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is known as a stress-inducible protein. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between HO-1 expression levels and clinical features of tongue cancer by using HO-1 responsiveness to stress as a clinical indicator. One-hundred and twelve biopsy samples from tongue squamous cell carcinomas were analyzed semiquantitatively by immunohistochemistry. Correlations between the expression level of HO-1 and the clinical features of tumors were statistically analyzed. Fifty-four cases with surgical confirmation of lymph node metastasis were examined for the association between cervical lymph node metastasis (pN) and other clinical features, including the HO-1 expression level, using logistic regression. The low HO-1 expression group contained significantly more undifferentiated samples (P=0.04) and pN positive cases (P=0.01) by univariate analysis. The low HO-1 expression group (odds ratio=8.49; 95% confidence interval=1.64-44.09, P=0.01) and an endophytic shape (odds ratio=16.79; 95% confidence interval=1.77-159.53, P=0.01) were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing lymph node metastasis by multivariate analysis. Low HO-1 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis. The expression profile suggests HO-1 could be used clinically as a marker for tumors possessing the potential for lymph node metastasis. This method could prove useful as an adjuvant method to detect lymph node metastasis and may help reduce the number of surgeries by indicating when surgery is unnecessary.

Adult↗

[Characteristics of early gastric cancer accompanied by lymph node metastasis].

We studied the phenotypic expression, DNA ploidy patterns and other clinico-pathological features of early gastric cancers accompanied by lymph node metastasis. Of 241 cases studied, 18 (7.5%) were lymph node-positive. Histologically, 4 were tub1, 7 tub2, 4 sig and 3 por. Seven of the 18 were differentiated type cancers with accompanying undifferentiated type cancer cells in a part of the cancer tissue. Mucin histochemistry showed that 15 of the 18 cancers were composed exclusively of gastric type cells, while the other 3 were composed of intestinal type cells. The incidence of gastric type cells in node-positive cancers was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in node-negative cancers. All node-positive mucosal cancers were composed mainly of gastric type cells. These findings indicate that there are many cancers which are originally gastric in type, and that gastric type cancers readily develop lymph node metastasis. On the other hand, a cytofluorometric study showed that 10 tumors were diploid and 8 were aneuploid. There was no statistically significant association between DNA ploidy patterns and the occurrence of lymph node metastasis.

Adult↗

Predictors of lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.

Data were analysed on 396 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent resection in this department; special reference was made to lymph node metastasis. Metastases were present in the dissected lymph nodes of 47 patients (11.9 per cent). The survival rate for patients with metastasis to lymph nodes was lower than for those without such metastasis (P less than 0.05). Lymph node metastasis was associated with larger tumour, a higher incidence of submucosal invasion, a higher rate of lymphatic vessel involvement, an advanced stage of disease and a non-curative resection rate of 6.4 per cent. Multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with early gastric cancer were large tumour size, lymphatic vessel involvement and invasion into the submucosal layer. In patients with these risk factors, lymph node dissection and postoperative adjuvant therapy should be performed in an attempt to prevent recurrence in the form of lymph node metastasis.

Female↗