Clinicopathological variables associated with lymph node metastasis and prognostic factors in pT2 gastric cancer

This retrospective study investigated the clinicopathological variables associated with lymph node metastasis and prognosis in 325 patients with pT2 gastric cancer in order to set out a foundation for the surgical management of this condition. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified factors that were predictive of lymph node metastasis. Cox regression analysis evaluated the effect of prognostic factors on survival. Tumour location, maximum tumour diameter, lymphatic invasion and total retrieved lymph nodes (tLN) were revealed as independent factors for lymph node metastasis in pT2a gastric cancer, whereas histological type, lymphatic invasion and tLN were associated with lymph node metastasis in patients with pT2b gastric cancer. Maximum tumour diameter, lymphatic invasion and metastatic lymph node (mLN) ratio, but not tLN, were independent prognostic factors in pT2a cancer. Maximum tumour diameter and mLN ratio, but not tLN, were independent prognostic factors in pT2b cancer. Overall, it is concluded that maximum tumour diameter and mLN ratio are important prognostic factors in pT2 gastric cancer.