Risk factors for metastasis to No.14v lymph node and prognostic value of 14v status for gastric cancer patients after surgery.

Background: D2 procedure has been accepted as the standard lymphadenectomy for advanced GC, while the role of No.14v lymph node (14v) dissection for distal GC is still controversial.

Methods: A total of 284 GC patients receiving D2 plus 14v dissection in our center were enrolled. Patients were categorized into two groups based on 14v status: positive group (PG) and negative group (NG). Clinicopathological factors correlated with 14v metastasis and prognostic variables were respectively analyzed.

Results: Thirty-five patients (12.3%) had 14v metastasis. Metastasis to No.4d and No.6 lymph node were independent variables affecting 14v metastasis. Patients with positive 14v had a significant lower 3-year overall survival (OS) rate than those without (3-year OS: 42.9% vs. 70.3%, P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that 14v status was an independent prognostic factor for III stage GC (hazard ratio 1.462, 95% confident interval: 1.182-2.309, P = 0.027). The prognosis of 14v positive patients correlated with tumor size and No.6 lymph node status in univariate analysis.

Conclusion: GC patients with No.4d and No.6 lymph node metastasis were more likely to have positive 14v. Status of 14v was an independent prognostic factor for III stage GC. Patients with 14v metastasis usually had a poorer prognosis, while survival in such patients after curative surgery was similar to that of patients staged IIIc without 14v metastasis.