2002 Volume 35 Issue 4 Pages 369-373
Background:The number of metastatic lymph nodes is considered an important prognostic factor in colorectal cancer in Europe and North America. Methods:We studied prognostic factors in 144 patients with Dukes C colon cancer undergoing curative surgery. Results:No significant differences was seen in survival due to the histological depth of tumor invasion and lymphatic or venous invasion. No significant differences was seen in 5-year survival between patients with n1 metastasis (n=94, 72.2%) and n2+n3 metastasis (n=45+5, 66.2%) based on the Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma (JCCC). Five-year survival in patients with 2 or fewer metastatic lymph nodes (n=86, 80.7%) was statistically higher than that in those with 3 or more metastatic lymph nodes (n=58, 52.8%) (p=0.011). Five-year survival in those with 3 or fewer metastatic nodes (n=104, 78.3%) was also statistically higher than that in those with 4 or more metastatic nodes (n=40, 46.7%) (p=0.022), as is the TNM Classification. Discussion:The number of metastatic lymph nodes, i.e., -2 vs 3-or-3 vs 4-, is a prognostic factor in patients with Dukes C colon cancer. The metastatic lymph node number is thus to be included in the JCCC.
