BACKGROUND: The role of sentinel lymph nodes in @entity14 remains unclear. METHODS: Cryosections from central para-aortic mesenterial lymph nodes were stained using mAb BER-Ep4. Overall survival and distant recurrence were calculated using Kaplan-Meier plots. RESULTS: All @entity1 (n = 48) were free of distant metastases and curatively resected (R0). 23 pN0, 13 pN1 and 12 pN2 stages were found. 21/48 @entity1 (44%) showed BER-Ep4+ cells in their central lymph nodes (7/23 pN0, 8/13 pN1, 6/12 pN2). In 6/23 pN0 @entity1 , BER-Ep4+ cells were also found in locoregional nodes (p = 0.03, Fisher's exact test). pN status predicted overall survival (p = 0.006, Kaplan-Meier curve, log-rank test). An impact was exerted by central mesenteric BER-Ep4+ cells on overall survival (p = 0.009 in pN0 @entity1 , p = 0.07 for all pN) and distant recurrence-free survival (p = 0.001 in pN0 @entity1 , p = 0.007 for all pN). Multivariate analysis showed an independent prognostic effect on overall survival in pN0 @entity1 (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Central lymph nodes are sentinels of disease not amenable to extended lymphadenectomy and might identify @entity1 at risk of distant organ recurrence.

Central mesenteric lymph node BER-Ep4+ cells in XXXX : challenge to sentinel node concept?

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity14 :: ('MESH:D015179', 'Disease') :: ['colorectal cancer']
@entity14 :: (MESH:D015179,Disease) :: ['colorectal cancer']
