Impact of lymph node metastasis on survival of patients with pancreatic cancer

Objective To study the impact of lymph node metastasis on prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer and to evaluate predictors of postoperative survival of these patients. Methods The clinical data on patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatic cancer radical surgery in our hospital from January 2002 to December 2013 were reviewed and analyzed. Data on lymph node metastasis, number of lymph node dissection, number of positive lymph nodes and positive lymph ratio were analyzed. Results Of 101 patients, the 6-month, 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 84.2%, 56.6% and 28.5%, respectively. The median survival was 13.8 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed lymph node metastasis, a positive lymph node ratio, number of lymph node dissection and positive lymph nodes were independent influential factors of prognosis. Results of subgroup analysis showed the number of lymph node dissection was a prognostic factor for pN0 patients, while a positive lymph ratio had no impact on survival of pN1 patients. In the subgroup of patients with pancreatic head cancer, lymph node metastasis was associated with prognosis but not in the subgroup of patients with pancreatic body and tail carcinoma. Conclusions For patients with pancreatic head cancer, lymph node metastasis was closely correlated with prognosis. In addition, factors including lymph node metastasis, number of lymph node dissection, a positive lymph node ratio and number of positive lymph nodes were independent influential factors of prognosis for patients with pancreatic head cancer. However, for pN1 patients, a positive lymph node ratio has no influence on prognosis. Key words: Pancreatic cancer; Prognosis; Lymph node metastasis