A New Classification System for Lymph Nodes in Colon Cancer: The Prognostic Significance of the Anatomical Distribution of Metastatic Lymph Nodes and the Number of Tumor Deposits

Cai Zerong1,500 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to investigate the prognostic significance of LNM distribution and establish a new classification system integrating both nodal quantity and anatomical location.The main question it aims to answer is: Does the new N staging based on lymph node metastasis patterns and cancer nodules provide a more accurate prediction of the prognosis of colon cancer patients compared to the AJCC N staging? The relevant clinical characteristics, treatment processes, postoperative pathological data and post-discharge prognosis information of the enrolled patients were collected through the follow-up offices and the medical record system. The data were analyzed. The main research endpoints were: overall survival (the time between the initial surgery and death or the last follow-up); disease-free survival (the time between the initial surgery and disease metastasis, recurrence or death).

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

1,500

Conditions

Colon Cancer Tumor Deposits Lymph Node Metastases TNM Staging

Eligibility

Sex: ALL

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Definite diagnosis of primary colon adenocarcinoma via auxiliary examination or pathology. * No distant metastasis (M0) confirmed by preoperative imaging or intraoperative findings. * No prior neoadjuvant therapy (including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy). * Underwent initial radical resection for colon cancer. * Available data on lymph node counts for all three stations. Exclusion Criteria: * Intraoperative or postoperative pathology confirming non-malignant tumors (including carcinoma in Tis). * Multiple primary cancers or concurrent malignancies in other sites.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

DFS

Disease Free Survival

Time frame: From the date of the initial surgery to death or disease recurrence or metastasis,assessed up to 120 months

Overall Survival

Time frame: From the date of the initial surgery to death, assessed up to 120 months