Prognostic value of lymph node micrometastases in patients with colorectal cancer in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4, N0, M0)

• Published in: Revista española de enfermedades digestivas Vol. 102; no. 3; pp. 176 - 186
• Main Authors: Uribarrena-Amezaga, R., Ortego, J., Fuentes, J., Raventós, N., Parra, P., Uribarrena-Echevarría, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva 01-03-2010
• Subjects: Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Geriatrics & Gerontology; Infectious Diseases; Oncology; Pathology; Pharmacology & Pharmacy; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging; Surgery; Micrometástasis; Pronóstico; Prognosis; Adenocarcinoma colorrectal; Micrometastases; Colorectal adenocarcinoma
• ISSN: 1130-0108; 1130-0108
• DOI: 10.4321/S1130-01082010000300004

Background: 30% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4, N0, M0) present tumor recurrence and die after 5 years follow up. This unexpectedly poor evolution might be attributable to the presence of lymph node micrometastasis undetected in routine examination with haematoxilin-eosine (H&E). Objective: to assess the presence of undetected micrometastasis. Patients and methods: we conducted a retrospective study of the locoregional lymph nodes in 85 patients operated for CRC in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4, N0, M0), using immunohistochemistry with anticytokeratin antibodies AE1/AE3. In this descriptive, inferential bivariant and survival study, we analyzed different risk factors, including local infiltration T1/T4, Dukes A/B, number of dissected lymph nodes, vascular invasion, micrometastasis, tumor recurrence and death in the context of the presence or absence of micrometastases. Results: Dukes stage and neoplastic angioinvasion are influential in patient prognosis; however, lymph node micrometastases were not associated with a poorer outcome of CRC. Conclusions: locorregional lymph node micrometastases detected with anticytokeratine antibodies AE1/AE3 in Dukes A and B CRC patients are not associated with reduced survival.