A new N descriptor for non-small cell lung cancer: the classification based on anatomic location, number and ratio of metastatic lymph nodes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The current N classification, which is determined by the anatomical location of positive lymph nodes, does not effectively stratify N1 and N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients into prognostically significant subgroups.

Methods

We acquired the clinical data of 3,234 N1 and N2 NSCLC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2004-2015). We eliminated patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation because chemotherapy and radiotherapy might lower lymph node stage, and the SEER database does not distinguish between therapy administered before and after surgery. We developed the N-new classification based on the former N stage, the number and ratio of lymph nodes. Patients were finally classified into four categories (N1a, N

SUBMITTER: Zhou B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9459623 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature