Tumor-Associated Neutrophils Can Predict Lymph Node Metastasis in Early Gastric Cancer
Yaohui Wang1, Jing Zhai2, Tiancheng Zhang3
1Department of Pathology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Frontiers in Oncology
|October 19, 2020
Summary
Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) are significant predictors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in early gastric cancer (EGC). These findings suggest TANs can enhance the precision of LNM estimation beyond current criteria.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Endoscopic therapy for early gastric cancer (EGC) relies on clinicopathological features.
- The role of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) in EGC, particularly for lymph node metastasis (LNM), is not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive value of TANs for LNM in patients with EGC.
- To compare the predictive role of TANs with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of preoperative peripheral blood for NLR.
- Assessment of TANs using hematoxylin-and-eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
- Correlation of TANs and NLR with clinicopathological features and LNM in 322 EGC patients undergoing gastrectomy.
Main Results:
- TANs, unlike NLR, showed a positive association with tumor size, Lauren classification, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and LNM.
- Univariate analysis confirmed TANs' association with LNM and several other pathological factors.
- TANs were identified as an independent risk factor for LNM in EGC, alongside histological classification and LVI.
Conclusions:
- TANs are a valuable predictor of LNM in EGC.
- TANs can improve the accuracy of LNM assessment in EGC, complementing existing diagnostic criteria.
