Tumor deposits in colorectal cancer: Refining their definition in the TNM system

• Published in: Annals of gastroenterological surgery Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 225 - 235
• Main Authors: Ueno, Hideki, Nagtegaal, Iris D., Quirke, Philip, Sugihara, Kenichi, Ajioka, Yoichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-03-2023; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Body fat; Chemotherapy; Colorectal cancer; Extramural cancer deposits without lymph node structure (EX); Lymph node metastasis; Lymphatic system; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; Review; Satellites; Tumor deposits (TDs); tumor stage; Tumors; Tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) system; Lymph node metastasis; Tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) system; Tumor deposits (TDs); tumor stage; Extramural cancer deposits without lymph node structure (EX)
• ISSN: 2475-0328; 2475-0328
• DOI: 10.1002/ags3.12652

Tumor deposits (TDs) are discontinuous tumor spread in the mesocolon/mesorectum which is found in approximately 20% of colorectal cancer (CRC) and negatively affects survival. We have a history of repeated revisions on TD definition and categorization in the tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) system leading to stage migration. Since 1997, TDs have been categorized as T or N factors depending on their size (TNM5) or contour (TNM6). In 2009, TNM7 provided the category of N1c for TDs in a case without positive lymph nodes (LNs), which is also used in TNM8. However, increasing evidence suggests that these revisions are suboptimal and only “partially” successful. Specifically, the N1c rule is certainly useful for oncologists who are having difficulty with TDs in a case with no positive LNs. However, it has failed to maximize the value of the TNM system because of the underused prognostic information of individual TDs. Recently, the potential value of an alternative staging method has been highlighted in several studies using the “counting method.” For this method, all nodular type TDs are individually counted together with positive LNs to derive the final pN, yielding a prognostic and diagnostic value that is superior to existing TNM systems. The TNM system has long stuck to the origin of TDs in providing its categorization, but it is time to make way for alternative options and initiate an international discussion on optimal treatment of TDs in tumor staging; otherwise, a proportion of patients end up missing an opportunity to receive the optimal adjuvant treatment.
This article reviewed a history of repeated revisions on tumor deposit (TD) definition and categorization in the tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) system, which may have failed to maximize the value of the TNM system because of the underused prognostic information of individual TDs. Recently, the potential value of an alternative staging method has been highlighted in several studies using the “counting method,” in which all nodular type TDs are individually counted together with positive LNs to derive the final pN. The treatment of TDs should be determined in terms of how it will maximize the prognostic value of TNM classification and its reproducibility, and it is time to initiate an international discussion on optimal treatment of TDs in tumor staging; otherwise, a proportion of patients end up missing an opportunity to receive the optimal adjuvant treatment.