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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
Author Spotlight: A Model to Study the Systemic and Local Dynamics of CD8+ T Cells During LN Metastasis
Published on: January 26, 2024
Metastatic lymph node burden impacts overall survival in submandibular gland cancer
Lei Wang1,2, Weihong Shi1,2
1Department of Stomatology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Objective:
To assess the effect of the number of positive lymph nodes (LNs) on the overall survival (OS) of patients with submandibular gland cancer (SmGC).
Methods:
Patients who had undergone neck dissection for SmGC were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The effect of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) N stage, the number of positive LNs, LN size, LN ratio, and extranodal extension (ENE) on OS and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was evaluated using Cox analysis. Prognostic models were proposed based on the identified significant variable, and their performance was compared using hazard consistency and discrimination.
Results:
In total, 129 patients were included in this study. The number of positive LNs rather than LN ratio, LN size, and ENE was associated with OS. A prognostic model based on the number of positive LNs (0 vs. 1-2 vs. 3+) demonstrated a higher likelihood ratio and Harrell's C index than those according to the 7th/8th edition of the AJCC N stage in predicting OS and RFS.
Conclusions:
The effect of LN metastasis on OS and RFS was mainly determined by the number of positive LNs. A validation of this finding is warranted in adenoid cystic carcinomas that were not included in this study.
