Effect of duration of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in a short-acting long regimen.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the duration of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) use on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) during the short-acting long-term hyperstimulation cycle. Methodology: Clinical data from 776 patients receiving controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) after short-term regimen downregulation were retrospectively analyzed. According to the duration of GnRH-a, the patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A, 14 days for GnRH-a; Group B, 15-17 days for GnRH-a; and Group C, >18 days for GnRH-a. The clinical data, treatment and clinical outcomes were compared among the groups. Results: There were no significant differences in fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) rate(P > 0.05). The total costs in group A were significantly less than those in group B and C(P < 0.001). The number of eggs and quality embryos generated in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P = 0.014, P = 0.005). Conclusions: In the short-acting GnRH agonist long protocol, satisfactory IVF-ET pregnancy outcome was obtained with the use of GnRH-a for 14 days under the premise of lowering the receptor-regulating standard. Excessive application of GnRH-a will affect the number of eggs and embryos and increase the cost of medical treatment.

Effect of complication grade on survival following curative gastrectomy for carcinoma.

AIM: To elucidate the potential impact of the grade of complications on long-term survival of gastric cancer patients after curative surgery. METHODS: A total of 751 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2002 and December 2006 in our center were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into four groups: no complications, Grade I, Grade II and Grade III complications, according to the following classification systems: T92 (Toronto 1992 or Clavien), Accordion Classification, and Revised Accordion Classification. Clinicopathological features were compared among the four groups and potential prognostic factors were analyzed. The Log-rank test was used to assess statistical differences between the groups. Independent prognostic factors were identified using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Stratified analysis was used to investigate the impact of complications of each grade on survival. RESULTS: Significant differences were found among the four groups in age, sex, other diseases (including hypertension, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), body mass index (BMI), intraoperative blood loss, tumor location, extranodal metastasis, lymph node metastasis, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and chemotherapy. Overall survival (OS) was significantly influenced by the complication grade. The 5-year OS rates were 43.0%, 42.5%, 25.5% and 9.6% for no complications, and Grade I, Grade II and Grade III complications, respectively (P < 0.001). Age, tumor size, intraoperative blood loss, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and complication grade were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. With stratified analysis, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, and intraoperative blood loss were independent prognostic factors for Grade I complications (P < 0.001, P = 0.031, P = 0.030). Age and lymph node metastasis were found to be independent prognostic factors for OS of gastric cancer patients with Grade II complications (P = 0.034, P = 0.001). Intraoperative blood loss, TNM stage, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS of gastric cancer patients with Grade III complications (P = 0.003, P = 0.005, P < 0.001). There were significant differences among patients with Grade I, Grade II and Grade III complications in TNM stage II and III cancer (P < 0.001, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Complication grade may be an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer following curative resection. Treatment of complications can improve the long-term outcome of gastric cancer patients.

Incorporation of perineural invasion of gastric carcinoma into the 7th edition tumor-node-metastasis staging system.

The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of perineural invasion (PNI) in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative resection. We retrospectively analyzed 518 patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy. Paraffin sections of surgical specimens from all patients were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. PNI was defined when carcinoma cells infiltrated into the perineurium or neural fascicles. Patients with PNI had a significantly larger tumors (≥5.0 cm), lymphatic venous invasion (positive), deeper tumor invasion (T4), more number of lymph node metastases (N3), and higher tumor stage (III). Regarding survival, multivariate analysis showed that PNI emerged as an independent prognostic factor for survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.901, P < 0.001). We incorporated the PNI into the 7th edition tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system. Comparing with the 7th edition staging system, the redefinition of TPNI stage had higher -2loglikelihood value (-2loglikelihood = 3,492.259) and lower HR and 95 % confidence interval (CI) (HR = 1.955, 95 % CI = 1.630-2.343); redefinition of NPNI and TNMIIIPNI stage both had lower -2loglikelihood value (-2loglikelihood = 3,306.608; -2loglikelihood = 2,535.151) and higher HR and 95 % CI (HR = 1.879, 95 % CI = 1.720-2.053; HR = 2.268, 95 % CI = 1.900-2.707), which represented the optimum prognostic stratification, together with better homogeneity, discriminatory ability. Our results showed that the frequency of PNI was high in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy and the proportion of PNI positivity increased with progression and clinical stage of disease. PNI may be useful in detecting patients who had poor prognosis after curative resection in gastric cancer and it should be incorporated into TNM staging.

The role of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratio in patients after radical resection for gastric cancer.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) on the postoperative complication and long-term outcomes in patients with resectable gastric cancer (GC). A total of 377 patients who underwent curative resection for GC were enrolled. In logistic analysis, PLR (p = 0.09) was independently associated with the incidence of postoperative complication. The results of multivariate survival analysis showed the NLR and PLR were introduced as prognostic factors for operable GC, the NLR may represent a useful prognostic index for the prediction of overall survival (OS) in advanced GC (p = 0.021).

Prognostic value of number of examined lymph nodes in patients with node-negative gastric cancer.

AIM: To elucidate the potential impact of examined lymph nodes (eLNs) on long-term survival of node-negative gastric cancer patients after curative surgery. METHODS: A total of 497 node-negative gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2000 and December 2008 in our center were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to eLNs through cut-point analysis. Clinicopathological features were compared between ≤ 15 eLNs group and > 15 eLNs group and potential prognostic factors were analyzed. The Log-rank test was used to assess statistical differences between the groups. Independent prognostic factors were identified using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Stratified analysis was performed to investigate the impact of eLNs on patient survival in each stage. Overall survival was also compared among the four groups. Finally, we explored the recurrent sites associated with eLNs. RESULTS: Patients with eLNs > 15 had a better survival compared with those with eLNs ≤ 15 for the entire cohort. By the multivariate survival analysis, we found that the depth of invasion and the number of eLNs were the independent predictors of overall survival (OS) of patients with node-negative gastric cancer. According to the cut-point analysis, T2-T4 patients with 11-15 eLNs had a significantly longer mean OS than those with 4-10 eLNs or 1-3 eLNs. Patients with ≤ 15 eLNs were more likely to experience locoregional and peritoneal recurrence than those with > 15 eLNs. CONCLUSION: Number of eLNs could predict the prognosis of node-negative gastric cancer, and dissection of > 15 eLNs is recommended during lymphadenectomy so as to improve the long-term survival.

[Significance of No.14v lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer undergoing D2 lymphadenectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the necessity of No.14v lymph node dissection in D2 lymphadenectomy for advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: Clinicopathological data of 131 cases of advanced gastric cancer receiving D2 or D2+ plus No.14v lymph node dissection were reviewed retrospectively. Clinicopathological factors associated with No.14v lymph node metastasis were analyzed and prognostic value of No.14v lymph node metastasis was evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 131 patients, 24 (18.3%) had positive No.14v lymph node. The incidence of 14v metastasis was associated with tumor location, tumor size, depth of invasion, N staging, TNM staging, No.1, No.6, and No.8a lymph nodes metastasis. Tumor location and N staging were independent risk factors for No.14v metastasis (all P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate was 8.3% and 37.8% in patients with and without No.14v metastasis respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that metastasis of No.14v was an independent prognostic factor for advanced gastric cancer after D2 lymphadenectomy (P=0.029, RR=1.807, 95%CI:1.064-3.070). CONCLUSIONS: For advanced middle and lower gastric cancers, especially those with larger size, serosa invasion and possibility of No.6 lymph node metastasis, it is necessary and feasible to remove the No.14v lymph node.

[The prognostic analysis of tumor size in T4a stage gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of tumor size in the prognosis of T4a stage gastric cancer. METHODS: The best cut-off point depending on tumor size was selected by Kaplan-Meier. Compare cliniclópathological characteristics between small size gastric cancer (SSG) and large size gastric cancer (LSG). Univariate analysis was done by Log-rank test and multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. The independent prognostic factors of patients were performed subgroup analysis. RESULTS: Eight centimetre was the optimal cut-off of tumor size for T4a stage gastric cancer. There were significantly differences between SSG and LSG in tumor location (χ² = 15.695), histological grade (χ² = 4.393), macroscopic type (χ² = 5.629) and early recurrence (χ² = 4.292). Univariate analysis showed age (χ² = 4.463), tumor size (χ² = 9.057), macroscopic type (χ² = 6.679), histological grade (χ² = 5.122), location of tumor (χ² = 8.707) and N stage (χ² = 132.954) are related to survival (P < 0.05). Among them, tumor size (HR = 1.339), histological grade (HR = 1.169) and N stage (HR = 1.876) were independent risk factor for survival (P = 0.05). For SSG, N stage (HR = 2.014) and histological grade (HR = 1.192) were independent risk factor for survival (P = 0.05), and for LSG, N stage (HR = 1.876) was independent risk factor for survival (P = 0.000). Further stratified analysis indicated that the 5-year survival rate of LSG is significantly lower than that of SSG in T4a stage patients of gastric cancer without lymph nodes metastasis or poorly differentiated (HR = 0.182 and 0.653, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor size is an independent prognostic factor in patients of T4a stage gastric cancer. Tumor size cut-off point of 8 cm can exert significant impact on the prognosis of T4a stage gastric cancer without lymph nodes metastasis or poorly differentiated.

[The significance of No.13 lymph node dissection in D2 gastrectomy for lower-third advanced gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and necessity of No.13 lymph node dissection in D2 radical gastrectomy for lower-third advanced gastric cancer (AGC). METHODS: Data of 379 cases who were diagnosed as TNM II-III stage AGC were collected from January 2001 to June 2007. One hundred cases who undergone No.13 lymph node dissection during D2 gastrectomy for lower-third AGC were selected as study group. Other 279 cases (control group) received only D2 gastrectomy. The differences in clinicopathologic and intraoperative and postoperative parameters and 5-years survival rate were compared using the SPSS 17.0 software. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in patients' gender, age, tumor size, histologic type, Borrmann type, duodenum invasion, tumor depth, lymph node metastasis, TNM classification, operative time, blood loss and the incidence of postoperative complications (P > 0.05). In the study group, there were 9 patients with positive No. 13 lymph node, and its 5-year survival rate (46.0%) was higher than the control group (36.5%, χ² = 4.452, P < 0.05). The Univariate analysis showed that age (χ² = 7.539), No.13 lymph node dissection (χ² = 4.452), tumor size (χ² = 7.100), duodenum invasion (χ² = 9.106), tumor depth (χ² = 7.428), lymph node metastasis (χ² = 45.046), TNM classification (χ² = 57.008) are associated with prognosis of lower-third AGC (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified age (HR = 0.500, 95% CI: 0.343 - 0.730), tumor size (HR = 0.545, 95%CI: 0.339 - 0.876), duodenum invasion (HR = 5.821, 95%CI: 2.326 - 14.572), and tumor depth (T4: HR = 2.087, 95% CI: 1.283 - 3.394) as independent prognostic factors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: No. 13 lymph node dissection for TNM II-III stage lower-third advanced gastric cancer is feasible and necessary.

[The value of negative lymph node count in prediction of prognosis of advanced gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of negative lymph node count (NLNC) in prediction of prognosis of advanced gastric cancer after radical resection. METHODS: The 544 cases of radical gastrectomy patients with complete clinical and follow-up data between January 2011 and July 2007 were collected. Survival was determined by the Kaplan-Merier method and univariate analysis was done by Log-rank test, Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed age (χ(2) = 4.449), T stage (χ(2) = 30.482), N stage (χ(2) = 205.452), location of tumor (χ(2) = 16.649), tumor size (χ(2) = 35.117), macroscopic type (χ(2) = 4.750), histological grade (χ(2) = 6.130), NLNC stage (χ(2) = 150.369) and type of gastrectomy (χ(2) = 25.605) were related to survival. Among them, T stage, N stage, tumor size and NLNC stage were independent risk factors for survival (P < 0.05). The prognostic factors of patients were performed subgroup analysis, NLNC > 15 group can prolong the survival than NLNC ≤ 15 group in the T2 stage (HR = 0.315), T4 stage (HR = 0.401), the same classification of location of tumor (HR = 0.286-0.493), tumor size (HR = 0.336, 0.465), macroscopic type (HR = 0.306, 0.418), histological grade (HR = 0.411, 0.365) and type of gastrectomy (HR = 0.444, 0.358 and 0.356, all P < 0.05). More NLNC can prolong Disease-Free Survival for patient of early recurrence (χ(2) = 8.648, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Sufficient negative lymph node count can prolong the survival and decrease the risk of early recurrence.

[Mode of lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer and risk factors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and to discuss reasonable lymphadenectomy in early gastric cancer (EGC). METHODS: Between January 1991 and December 2010, 242 EGC patients underwent surgery in the Tianjin Cancer Hospital. Their clinical characteristics, pathologic features, and lymph node metastasis were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: LNM was observed in 22 of 242 patients (9.1%), and 10 (5.5%) in 182 mucosal lesions and 12 (20.0%) in 60 submueosal lesions. There were 14 patients had LNM in the first tier alone, 4 patients had skipped metastasis, and 4 patients had LNM in the first, second, and third ties. The LNM was identified in 18 patients at the first tier with groups 7 and 3 being the most common (8 patients in each group), 7 patients at the second tier (4 patients in group 8a and 3 in group 9), and 2 patients at the third tier (one 16b, and one 4sa). Multivariable analysis showed that the depth of invasion (P=0.003, OR=4.386, 95%CI:1.656-11.617), and lymphatic vessel involvement(P=0.002, OR=13.621, 95%CI:2.711-68.447) were independent risk factors for LNM. CONCLUSIONS: LNM in EGC is mainly correlated with depth of invasion, and lymphatic vessel involvement. Precise evaluation of LNM pre- and intra-operatively is very important for the reasonable surgery.

[Prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio for gastric cancer patients with less than 15 lymph nodes dissection].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio (MLR) for gastric cancer patients with less than 15 lymph nodes dissected. METHODS: Clinical data of 610 gastric cancer patients undergoing operation in Tianjin Cancer Hospictal from January 2003 to July 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: <15 lymph nodes dissected group (n=320) and ≥ 15 lymph nodes dissected group (n=290). MLR was classified based on the following intervals: rN1 ≤ 10%, rN2 10%-30%, rN3 30%-60% and rN4 >60%. Survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier method and difference was assessed by Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard regression model. Survival rates were compared between two groups in pN and rN stages respectively. RESULTS: In <15 nodes group, all the survival differences among various rN stages were not significant (all P>0.05), while in same rN stage, all the survival differences among various pN stages were not significant (all P>0.05). Significant differences of 5-year cumulative survival rates were found between the two groups in pN2 and pN3a stage patients (both P<0.05) while no significant differences were found among different rN stages (all P>0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated rN stage was an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients with <15 lymph nodes dissected (P=0.012, RR=1.617, 95%CI:1.111-2.354). CONCLUSION: The rN staging system based on MLR can predict the prognosis of gastric cancer patients with less than 15 lymph nodes dissected.

[Analysis of clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis on mixed histology type of gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of mixed histological type (MHT) gastric cancer. METHODS: Clinical and follow-up data of 1108 gastric cancer patients undergoing radical operation in Tianjin Cancer Hospital between 2003 and 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinicopathologic characteristics of MHT gastric cancer were summarized and the prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and COX regression. RESULTS: Among the 1108 patients, 144 (13.0%) had mixed histology type of gastric cancer. Compared to the unitary histological type (UHT), MHT gastric cancer had bigger tumor size, higher proportion of T4 tumor, and was easier for lymph node and distant metastasis (all P<0.05). The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with MHT were 26.5% and 10.8% respectively, which were lower than those with UHT (58.8% and 35.0%, P<0.01). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed TNM classification was an independent prognostic factor (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: MHT gastric cancer shows worse prognosis than UHT gastric cancer. There is no difference in prognosis among various combination of MHT gastric cancer. TNM classification is an independent prognostic factor of MHT gastric cancer.

[The prognostic influence of D2 lymphadenectomy with para-aortic lymph nodal dissection for gastric cancer in N3 stage].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the necessity of para-aortic lymph nodal dissection in D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer in N3 stage. METHODS: A total of 278 gastric cancer patients staged N3 who underwent gastrectomy between January 2003 and December 2007 were enrolled. There were 180 male and 98 female patients, and the patients' age were 26-93 years (median was 61 years). All patients had undergone surgical treatment. There were R0 resection in 246 cases and R1 resection in 32 cases. Lymph node dissection included D1 lymphadenectomy with 125 cases, D2 lymphadenectomy with 109 cases and D2+para-aortic lymph nodal dissection(PAND) with 44 cases. The surgical approach were total gastrectomy (98 cases) and subtotal gastrectomy (180 cases). Potential prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The lymph node metastasis of each station was high in gastric cancer patients staged N3 and 34.1% patients had the para-aortic lymph nodal metastasis. Borrmann type (HR = 1.350, 95%CI: 1.018-1.790, P = 0.037), curability (HR = 1.580, 95%CI: 1.076-2.322, P = 0.020), depth of invasion (HR = 1.697, 95%CI: 1.005-2.864, P = 0.048), metastatic lymph node ratio (HR = 1.631, 95%CI: 1.261-2.111, P = 0.000), extranodal metastasis (HR = 1.336, 95%CI: 1.027-1.738, P = 0.031), postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 1.312, 95%CI: 1.015-1.696, P = 0.038), extent of lymphadenectomy (HR = 1.488 and 2.114, P = 0.054 and 0.000) and number of retrieved lymph node (HR = 1.503 and 2.112, P = 0.025 and 0.000) were found to be factors correlated to overall survival. In multivariate analysis, only Borrmann type (HR = 1.399, 95%CI: 1.050-1.863, P = 0.022), metastatic lymph node ratio (HR = 1.353, 95%CI: 1.016-1.802, P = 0.039) and extent of lymphadenectomy (HR = 1.725, 95%CI: 1.111-2.678, P = 0.015) were independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer patients in N3 stage. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in N3 stage should at least have 30 lymph node examined. D2 lymph node dissection plus PAND may improve the overall survival for gastric cancer patients in N3 stage.

[The reasonable surgery for gastric body cancer and prognostic analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the reasonable surgery for gastric body cancer. METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2006, the clinicopathological data of 145 patients with a tumor in the middle third of the stomach underwent radical gastric resection were analyzed retrospectively. We conducted comparative analysis for the differences in clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis between total gastrectomy (TG) and subtotal gastrectomy (STG). RESULTS: The 98 patients underwent TG, 47 received STG. There were significant differences in aspects of tumor size, depth of tumor, nodal status and TNM stage between the 2 groups. Patients with more advanced cancer were more likely to receive TG. The 5-year survival rate for TG was lower (25.5%) than STG (63.8%) (χ(2) = 11.707, P = 0.000). However, if tumor stages were stratified, there was no significant difference in the 5-year survival rate. TNM stage (P = 0.044) and histologic type (HR = 1.834, 95%CI: 1.073 - 3.135, P = 0.027) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The overall survival rate of STG for gastric cancer in the middle third of the stomach is better than that of TG. If the radical resection margin can be obtained for gastric body carcinoma, STG is considered instead of TG.