Clinicopathological Characteristics and Outcome Indicators of Stage II Gastric Cancer According to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Cancer

Background: The characteristics of stage II gastric cancer according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Cancer (JCGC) were examined and the high-risk factors predicting poor prognosis were detected. Patients and Methods: In total, 107 patients, who underwent clinically curative gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for stage II gastric cancer, were included. Survival curves of the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, the ratio of involved: resected lymph nodes and chemotherapy treatment were compared. Results: The survival curves were related to tumor invasion depth and lymph node metastasis. The ratio of involved resected lymph nodes was a good prognostic indicator compared to the classification of regional lymph node metastasis (N classification). Survival rates with adjuvant chemotherapy were slightly higher than without adjuvant chemotherapy, but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: pT2pN1 (stage II) gastric cancers according to the JCGC, especially pSSpN1 cases, included stage IIIB and IV gastric cancers according to the International Union Against Cancer / American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC); therefore, the prognosis of these might be poor. With pSSpN1 cases, according to the JCGC, anticancer chemotherapy equivalent to that required for stage III gastric cancer cases is necessary.