OBJECTIVETo preliminarily investigate the expression and clinical significance of leptin and adiponectin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODSThe expression of leptin and adiponectin in ESCC and normal esophageal mucosal tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining with tissue microarray. The correlation between leptin, adiponectin and clinicalpathological features was statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression of leptin was significantly upregulated in the ESCC than in the normal esophageal mucosa tissue [65.6% (80/122) versus 27.5% (11/40), P < 0.001]. Expression of leptin was significantly correlated with lymph node involvement and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.009 and P = 0.043, respectively). Expression of adiponectin was significantly down-regulated in ESCC compared with that in normal esophageal mucosal tissue [22.1% (27/122) versus 47.5% (19/40), P = 0.002]. Expression of adiponectin was significantly correlated with lymph node involvement (P = 0.020). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the expression of leptin and lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (r = 0.235 and r = 0.183, respectively), and a negative correlation between the expression of adiponectin and lymph node metastasis (r = -0.229). There was no significant correlation between the expressions of leptin and adiponectin (P > 0.05), and between the body mass index and the expression of leptin and adiponectin, and lymph node metastasis (P > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONSAn imbalanced expression of adipocytokines exits in ESCC. The expression of leptin and adiponectin is correlated with lymph node metastasis and/or tumor stage. Therefore, imbalanced expression of leptin and adiponectin may have a potential role in the carcinogenesis and disease progression of ESCC.

Adiponectin ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between extranodal metastasis (EM) and clinicopathologic features as well as the effect of EM on the prognosis in gastric cardia patients.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed for the 323 cases with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia who underwent curative resection from January 2000 to January 2007. There were 272 male patients and 51 female patients with their median age of 63 (22 to 85) years. The relationship between clinicopathological features and extranodal metastasis was studied. The effects of the EM on the recurrence and survival of these patients were also analyzed.

RESULTSEM positive was detected in 67 (20.7%) of the 323 patients. The incidence of EM was correlated with tumor Lauren typing, differentiation degree, invasive depth and lymph node metastasis (χ(2) = 4.647-27.216, P < 0.05). The 5-year survival rate and media survival time between patients with EM and those without EM were 12.3%, 34.1% and 20, 39 months, there was a statistically significantly difference (χ(2) = 23.936, P = 0.000) in 5-year survival rate. Multivariate analysis identified that invasive depth, lymph node metustasis and EM as an independent prognostic factor of all the patients. To the last follow up, the cumulative probability of recurrence of EM-positive patients was significant higher than EM-negative patients (59.7% vs. 35.9%; χ(2) = 12.409, P = 0.000). To study furthermore, stratified analysis showed that, in the node-positive patients, the cumulative recurrence rate of EM-positive patients was higher than EM-negative patients (60.9% vs. 40.0%; χ(2) = 8.410, P = 0.004) and the 5-year survival rate of EM-positive patients was less than the EM-negative patients (12.9% vs. 30.1%; χ(2) = 12.939, P = 0.000), the differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSEM positive is determined to be an independent prognosis factor of gastric cardia after curative resection. EM-positive patients have a high risk for recurrence and a short time to live.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardia ; pathology ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of number of positive lymph nodes and metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) in evaluation of recurrence risk and overall survival in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) after curative resection.

METHODSClinical data of 337 AEG patients who underwent curative resection in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The pN stage was categorized based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes and LNR stage, and was determined by the best cutoff approach at log-rank test. Univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used to analyze the effects of pN and LNR on recurrence-free survival and overall survival of these patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to compare the accuracy of prognosis prediction with pN and LNR.

RESULTSThe 5-year recurrence-free survival rate and overall survival rate for all patients were 25.5% and 29.9%, respectively. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 47.6%, 23.2%, 17.1% and 5.7% for pN0, pN1, pN2, and pN3, respectively, (P < 0.001) and the 5-year overall survival rates were 53.3%, 28.9%, 18.9% and 7.3%, respectively (P < 0.001). The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 47.6%, 24.3%, 11.4% and 2.0% for LNR0, LNR1, LNR2, and LNR3, respectively (P < 0.001), and the 5-year overall survival rates were 53.3%, 28.5%, 15.0%, 2.6%, respectively (P < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, macroscopic type, degree of differentiation, pT, pN, LNR and TNM stage were significantly associated with RFS and OS (P < 0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that either pN or LNR was independent risk factor for RFS and OS (P < 0.001). When pN and LNR were entered into the Cox hazard ratio model as covariates at the same time, LNR remained as an independent prognosis factor for RFS and OS (P < 0.001), but pN was not (P > 0.05). ROC curves showed that the area under the curve of LNR stage was larger than that of pN stage in prediction of both RFS and OS, however the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLNR is an independent risk factor associated with the prognosis of AEG patients. The value of LNR in prediction of recurrence hazard and overall survival was better than that of pN stage. It offers some helpful suggestions for AEG patients risk classification, allowing clinicians to develop a reasonable treatment.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo analyze the pattern and the clinicopathologic risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in pN1 stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSClinical data of 181 patients (154 male and 27 female patients, aging from 38 to 84 years) who underwent esophagectomy during January 2005 and December 2008 were reviewed, including 69 cases through left thoracotomy and 112 cases through right thoracotomy. All patients underwent systematic lymphadenectomy. The risk factors related to lymph node metastasis were analyzed by χ² test and Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe relatively highest LNM site were middle and lower thoracic paraesophageal (38.4%), right and left cardiac (35.3%) and the left gastric artery (38.8%). The LNM of middle and lower thoracic paraesophageal was correlated with T stage (χ² =11.754, P=0.009). A correlation was also found among the LNM of upper mediastinum and the location of tumor (P=0.039). The T stage (χ² =8.694, P=0.034) and TNM stage (χ² =6.906, P=0.032) were the risk factors of the LNM of middle and lower mediastinum. The risk factors of the LNM of abdomen were the location of tumor, the length of tumor, T stage and TNM stage (χ² =5.713 to 16.749, P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the location of tumor is the independent risk factors for the abdominal lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSThe relatively highest LNM sites are correlated with the location of tumor, T stage, the length of tumor and TNM stage. According to the risk factors of LNM, the relatively highest LNM sites should be mainly swept.

Abdomen ; Abdominal Cavity ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Risk Factors ; Thoracotomy

Incidence of adenocarcinoma of esophago-gastric junction (AEG) in China presents an obviously increasing trend. Due to the particular anatomic site, its definition, classification, staging, surgical approach, resection pattern, extent of lymphadenectomy, and neoadjuvant therapy, etc. remain controversial. The goal of this expert consensus is to improve the homogeneity in understanding and practice among Chinese thoracic and gastrointestinal surgeons, and to further standardize surgical treatment of AEG. This consensus was generated based on the best available clinical evidence, the latest global guidelines or consensuses, and the agreement from the Chinese expert panel. The panel composed of 19 thoracic surgeons and 20 gastrointestinal surgeons nationwide. Delphi technique was used to generate agreement rates and revision details. In the fields of aforementioned controversies, the present consensus produced 27 statements on surgical treatment-related recommendations for AEG, as well as 9 issues as investigational surgical concerns. The present consensus consists of 7 parts:(1) definition and classification of AEG; (2) surgical approach; (3) minimally invasive surgery; (4) pattern and extent of resection; (5) combined organ resection; (6) lymph node group and lymphadenectomy standard; and(7) neoadjuvant therapy. Pending issues in this consensus need further high-quality clinical research.
Adenocarcinoma ; surgery ; China ; Consensus ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Staging ; Stomach Neoplasms