Effect of Tumor Localization on Metastatic Lymph Node Distribution and Prognosis in Gastric Cancers

Abstract

Our primary aim is to analyse the effects of tumor location on metastatic lymph node distribution and prognosis in patients who underwent total or subtotal gastrectomy + lymph node dissection for gastric cancer. Our secondary aim is investigate independent risk factors affecting DFS and OS in gastric cancers. Patients who underwent gastrectomy + lymph node dissection due to gastric cancer in our clinic between 2015-2021 were included in the study and analyzed retrospectively. Subgroup analysis was performed by dividing the patients for 3 groups as proximal, middle and distal according to tumor localization. In addition, factors affecting DFS and OS were analysed. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics, preoperative laboratory values, tumor markers and postoperative complications. It was observed that metastasis to S1 and S2 in the proximal tumors, to S7 in the middle group, and to S6 in the distal group was more common than the other groups. In all of the patients, the median OS was 16.7 months and the DFS was 10.4 months, and there was no significant difference between the groups. We observed that the most frequently metastasized station was S3. We also observed that proximal tumors metastasized to S1 and S2, distal tumors to S6, and middle group tumors to S7 more frequently than other groups. Although we observed that tumor location had no effect on DFS and OS, this result needs to be confirmed in larger patient groups and longer follow-up periods.