Which is the better prognostic factor for resected XXXX : the number of metastatic lymph nodes or the currently used nodal stage classification?

@entity1 @entity1149 @entity477 @entity3121 @entity3
INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of the number of metastatic lymph nodes (nN) in resected @entity1149 ( @entity1149 ) in comparison with the currently used pathologic nodal (pN) category in the staging system. METHODS: A total of 1659 @entity1 who underwent potentially curative resection for @entity1149 from 2000 to 2006 were included in this study. The association between the nN and survival was explored, and the results were compared with those using the location-based pN stage classification. RESULTS: The @entity1 were divided into four categories according to the number of metastatic nodes: nN0, absence of metastatic nodes; nN1, @entity3 in one to two nodes; nN2, @entity3 in three to six nodes; and nN3, @entity3 in seven or more nodes. The 5-year overall survival for nN0, nN1, nN2, and nN3 was 89.2%, 65.1%, 42.1%, and 22.4%, respectively (p < 0.001). The nN category could be used to subdivide @entity3121 and @entity477 @entity1 into two (nN1 and nN2) and three (nN1, nN2, and nN3) prognostically distinct subgroups, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the nN category was an independent prognostic factor for resected @entity1149 . The difference in overall survival between @entity3121 and @entity477 was not significant (55.4% versus 47.8%, p = 0.245). @entity1 in each nN category could not be subdivided into different prognostic subgroups according to the pN classification. CONCLUSIONS: The nN category in this study was shown to be a better prognostic determinant than the location-based pN stage classification.
