Prognostic value of D3 lymph node dissection and nutritional status in colorectal cancer patients aged 80 years and older
摘要
To evaluate the impact of D3 lymph node dissection and nutritional status on outcomes in patients aged ≥80 years with colorectal cancer.
MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients aged ≥80 years who underwent curative resection for stage I–III colorectal cancer between April 2007 and February 2020. Patients were divided into D3 and non-D3 lymph node dissection groups. Propensity score matching was performed to reduce baseline differences. Short- and long-term outcomes, including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS), were compared. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors, with particular attention to the prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Competing-risk analysis for cancer-specific death was also conducted.
ResultsAfter propensity score matching, 272 patients (136 per group) were analyzed. The D3 group showed significantly better OS (5-year: 73.5% vs. 60.0%, P = 0.0039) and DFS (5-year: 69.5% vs. 56.1%, P = 0.0099) than the non-D3 group. CSS was not significantly different on Kaplan–Meier analysis; however, competing-risk analysis demonstrated a significantly lower cumulative incidence of cancer-specific death in the D3 group (5-year: 23.0% vs. 29.6%, P = 0.024). Multivariate analysis identified D3 dissection and PNI ≥ 45 as independent favorable prognostic factors for OS, DFS, and CSS.
ConclusionsIn patients aged ≥80 years with colorectal cancer, D3 lymph node dissection improved OS and DFS without increasing perioperative morbidity. Preoperative PNI was a strong predictor of long-term prognosis and may aid surgical decision-making in elderly patients.