OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for No.11p lymph node metastasis in advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was executed of the clinical data of 204 patients who were subject to advanced gastric cancer and accepted radical gastrectomy in Tianjin Cancer Hospital from January 2007 to December of 2011. All of the patients were diagnosed as gastric adenocarcinoma and received No.11p lymph node dissection. The general information of the patients and the number of dissected and positive lymph nodes were recorded in detail. Univariate and multivariate analysis of clinicopathological factors influencing No.11p lymph metastasis were performed by chi-square test and binary Logistiic Discussion, respectively.

RESULTSThe No.11p lymph node metastasis rate is 14.3%(29/204) in the 204 patients. The univariate analysis showed that No.11p lymph metastasis was correlated with diameter of tumor, depth of invasion (T stage), lymph node metastasis (N stage) and TNM stage (χ(2)=5.106, χ(2)=5.368, χ(2)=25.911, P<0.05). The association between the metastasis of the regional lymph nodes No.1, No. 3, No. 4sb, No. 5, No. 7, No. 9 and No.11p was significant (χ(2)=4.228, χ(2)=10.655, χ(2)=17.954, χ(2)=11.087, χ(2)=15.142, χ(2)=16.727, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed that lymph node N3 stage(OR=4.791, 95% CI:2.056-11.167), No.4sb(OR=3.498, 95% CI:1.157-10.578) and No.9(OR=4.006, 95% CI:1.359-11.805) were three independent risk factors of No.11p lymph node metastasis(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe No.11p lymph node dissection in radical gastrectomy conventionally is reasonable and necessary. Lymph node N3 stage and the metastasis of regional lymph No.4sb and No.9 are independent risk factors of the metastasis of No.11p lymph node.