Observational Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Nov 27, 2021; 13(11): 1463-1483
Published online Nov 27, 2021. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v13.i11.1463
Table 1 Sample characteristics, n (%)
Characteristic
n (%)
Year of diagnosis
2004-20063142 (27)
2007-20093028 (26)
2010-20122850 (25)
2013-20152587 (22)
Age at diagnosis (yr)
Median (range)69 (12-99)
Sex
Male6697 (58)
Female4910 (42)
Race
White7045 (61)
Black2076 (18)
Asian/Pacific2486 (21)
Marital status
Single/divorced2539 (22)
Married6805 (58)
Widowed1837 (16)
NA426 (4)
Insurance status
Insured8033 (69)
Uninsured432 (4)
NA3142 (27)
Site of tumor
Fundus/body1866 (16)
Antrum/pylorus4626 (40)
Overlapping lesion1299 (11)
Stomach, NOS3816 (33)
Tumor size (cm)
≤ 55431 (47)
5.1-104203 (36)
≥ 10.11135 (10)
NA838 (7)
Histology
ADC, NOS4481 (39)
Signet ring cell carcinoma2726 (23)
ADC, instestinal type1943 (17)
Carcinoma, diffuse type958 (8)
ADC with mixed subtypes424 (4)
Other1075 (9)
Grade
Well/moderately differentiated2674 (23)
Poorly/undifferentiated8524 (73)
NA409 (4)
T stage, 8th ed.
T1290 (2)
T2943 (8)
T35569 (48)
T4a3551 (31)
T4b1254 (11)
N stage, 8th ed.
N02863 (25)
N12422 (21)
N22757 (24)
N3a2498 (21)
N3b1067 (9)
Stage, 8th ed.
IIA2585 (22)
IIB2129 (18)
IIIA3049 (26)
IIIB2511 (22)
IIIC1333 (12)
Chemotherapy
Yes6473 (56)
No5134 (44)
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Yes1255 (11)
No10352 (89)
Radiotherapy
Yes4285 (37)
No7322 (63)
Type of surgery
Partial gastrectomy8320 (72)
Total gastrectomy3287 (28)
Number of retrieved lymphnodes
< 16 LNs (ILA)5806 (50)
16-29 LNs (ALA)4085 (35)
≥ 30 LNs (OLA)1716 (15)
Table 2 Sample characteristics by the number of retrieved lymph nodes, n (%)
CharacteristicILA
ALA
OLA
P value
n = 5806
n = 4085
n = 1716
Year of diagnosis< 0.001
2004-20061861 (32)947 (23)334 (20)
2007-20091563 (27)1071 (26)394 (23)
2010-20121299 (22)1080 (27)471 (27)
2013-20151083 (19)987 (19)517 (30)
Age at diagnosis (yr)< 0.001
Median (range)71 (12-99)68 (14-98)65 (18-93)
Sex0.218
Male3365 (58)2318 857)1014 (59)
Female2441 (42)1767 (43)702 (41)
Race< 0.001
White3695 (64)2377 (58)973 (57)
Black1061 (18)747 (18)268 (15)
Asian/Pacific1050 (18)961 (24)475 (28)
Marital status< 0.001
Single/divorced1261 (22)900 (22)378 (22)
Married3282 (57)2439 (60)1084 (63)
Widowed1059 (18)595 (15)183 (11)
NA204 (3)151 (4)71 (4)
Insurance status< 0.001
Insured3721 (64)2998 (73)68 (4)
Uninsured224 (4)140 (4)1314 (77)
NA1861 (32)924 (23)334 (20)
Primary site< 0.001
Fundus/body835 (14)696 (17)335 (19)
Antrum/pylorus2562 (44)1511 (37) 553 (32)
Overlapping lesion549 (10)515 (13)235 (14)
Stomach, NOS1860 (32)1363 (33)593 (35)
Tumor size (cm)< 0.001
≤ 52977 (51)1808 (44)646 (38)
5.1-101906 (33)1573 (39)724 (42)
≥ 10.1438 (8)448 (11)249 (15)
NA485 (8)256 (6)97 (6)
Hystology< 0.001
ADC, NOS2426 (42)1517 (37)538 (31)
Signet ring cell carcinoma1248 (22)997 (24)481 (28)
ADC, instestinal type928 (16)702 (17)313 (18)
Carcinoma, diffuse type422 (7)360 (9)176 (10)
ADC with mixed subtypes170 (3)166 (4)88 (5)
Other612 (10)343 (9)120 (7)
Grade< 0.001
Well/moderately differentiated1493 (26)862 (21)319 (19)
Poorly/undifferentiated4072 (70)3106 (76)1346 (78)
NA241 (4)117 (3)51 (3)
T stage, 8th ed.< 0.001
T1111 (2)131 (3)48 (3)
T2490 (8)321 (8)132 (8)
T32877 (50)1897 (47)795 (46)
T4a1658 (29)1321 (32)572 (33)
T4b670 (11)415 (10)169 (10)
N stage, 8th ed.< 0.001
N01810 (31)794 (19)259 (15)
N11528 (26)671 (16)223 (13)
N21517 (26)900 (22)340 (20)
N3a951 (16)1167 (29)380 (22)
N3b0553 (14)514 (30)
Stage, 8th ed.< 0.001
IIA1557 (27)775 (19)253 (15)
IIB1293 (22)621 (15)215 (13)
IIIA1754 (30)942 (23)353 (20)
IIIB1055 (18)1091 (27)365 (21)
IIIC147 (3)656 (16)530 (31)
Chemotherapy < 0.001
Yes2814 (48)2490 (61)1169 (68)
No2992 (52)1595 (39)547 (32)
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy< 0.001
Yes408 (7)536 (13)311 (18)
No5398 (93)3549 (87)1405 (82)
Radiotherapy< 0.001
Yes1993 (34)1630 (40)662 (39)
No3813 (66)2455 (60)1054 (61)
Type of surgery< 0.001
Partial gastrectomy4623 (80)2742 (67)955 (56)
Total gastrectomy1183 (20)1343 (33)761 (44)
Table 3 Cox regression analysis of overall survival and cancer-specific survival
Overall survival
Cancer-specific survival
VariableUnivariable
Multivariable1
Univariable
Multivariable1

HR (95%CI)
P value
HR (95%CI)
P value
HR (95%CI)
P value
HR (95%CI)
P value
Sex
MaleReferenceReference
Female1.03 (0.99-1.08)0.1711.07 (1.02-1.13)0.006
Age, yr
< 70 ReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
≥ 70 1.57 (1.50-1.64)< 0.0011.51 (1.43-1.59)< 0.0011.32 (1.26-1.39)< 0.0011.33 (1.26-1.41)< 0.001
Race
White ReferenceReferenceReference
Black0.97 (0.91-1.03)0.2831.11 (1.05-1.18)0.0010.97 (0.90-1.03)0.3171.10 (1.03-1.18)0.005
Asian/Pacific0.80 (0.75-0.85)< 0.0010.82 (0.77-0.87)< 0.0010.82 (0.77-0.87)< 0.0010.83 (0.78-0.89)< 0.001
Insurance status
NAReferenceReference
Insured0.92 (0.88-0.97)0.0011.05 (0.91-1.21)0.550
Uninsured0.96 (0.84-1.09)0.5010.95 (0.83-1.09)0.459
Site of tumor
Fundus-bodyReferenceReference
Antrum-pylorus1.08 (1.01-1.15)0.0301.08 (0.99-1.16)0.055
Overlapping lesion of the stomach1.30 (1.19-1.42)< 0.0011.35 (1.23-1.49)< 0.001
Stomach, NOS1.05 (0.98-1.13)0.1671.04 (0.96-1.12)0.373
Histology
ADC, NOSReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
Signet ring cell carcinoma1.16 (1.09-1.23)< 0.0011.14 (1.07-1.21)< 0.0011.28 (1.20-1.37)< 0.0011.16 (1.09-1.25)< 0.001
ADC, instestinal type0.87 (0.81-0.93)< 0.0010.98 (0.91-1.05)0.5470.79 (0.73-0.86)< 0.0010.93 (0.86-1.01)0.086
Carcinoma, diffuse type1.15 (1.06-1.26)0.0011.12 (1.03-1.23)0.0111.22 (1.11-1.34)< 0.0011.11 (1.00-1.22)0.045
ADC with mixed subtypes1.06 (0.94-1.20)0.3491.09 (0.96-1.24)0.1691.12 (0.98-1.28)0.1031.08 (0.94-1.24)0.281
Other0.92 (0.85-1.00)0.0620.97 (0.89-1.06)0.5430.95 (0.86-1.04)< 0.0011.01 (0.92-1.11)0.862
T stage, 8th ed.
T1ReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
T21.13 (0.93-1.36)0.2171.08 (0.88-1.32)0.4551.12 (0.89-1.41)0.3221.01 (0.79-1.28)0.963
T31.52 (1.28-1.80)< 0.0011.37 (1.09-1.73)0.0081.69 (1.37-2.07)< 0.0011.34 (1.02-1.76)0.033
T4a2.34 (1.98-2.78)< 0.0011.72 (1.33-2.22)< 0.0012.89 (2.35-3.55)< 0.0011.70 (1.27-2.28)< 0.001
T4b2.83 (2.37-3.38)< 0.0012.08 (1.48-2.93)< 0.0013.54 (2.86-4.39)< 0.0012.06 (1.40-3.01)< 0.001
N stage, 8th ed.
N0ReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
N11.22 (1.14-1.31)< 0.0011.30 (1.16-1.46)< 0.0011.31 (1.21-1.43)< 0.0011.26 (1.10-1.43)0.001
N21.49 (1.39-1.59)< 0.0011.49 (1.28-1.73)< 0.0011.70 (1.57-1.84)< 0.0011.44 (1.22-1.70)< 0.001
N3a2.05 (1.92-2.19)< 0.0012.10 (1.61-2.74)< 0.0012.51 (2.32-2.71)< 0.0012.06 (1.55-2.76)< 0.001
N3b2.90 (2.66-3.15)< 0.0013.22 (2.17-4.80)< 0.0013.68 (3.36-4.03)< 0.0013.29 (2.14-5.05)< 0.001
Stage, 8th ed.
IIAReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
IIB1.34 (1.24-1.45)< 0.0011.17 (1.05-1.31)0.0051.62 (1.47-1.78)< 0.0011.38 (1.22-1.57)< 0.001
IIIA1.96 (1.83-2.10)< 0.0011.43 (1.21-1.70)< 0.0012.53 (2.33-2.75)< 0.0011.78 (1.48-2.15)< 0.001
IIIB2.47 (2.30-2.66)< 0.0011.44 (1.08-1.92)0.0123.38 (3.11-3.68)< 0.0011.87 (1.37-2.55)< 0.001
IIIC3.68 (3.39-3.99)< 0.0011.59 (1.04-2.44)0.0345.19 (4.73-5.70)< 0.0012.05 (1.29-3.26)0.003
Grade
Well/moderately differentiatedReferenceReferenceReference
Poorly/undifferentiated1.35 (1.28-1.43)< 0.0011.19 (1.12-1.26)< 0.0011.59 (1.49-1.70)< 0.001
Type of surgery
Partial gastrectomyReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
Total gastrectomy1.25 (1.19-1.32)< 0.0011.23 (1.17-1.30)< 0.0011.32 (1.25-1.40)< 0.0011.22 (1.15-1.29)< 0.001
Chemotherapy
NoReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
Yes0.62 (0.59-0.64)< 0.0010.68 (0.64-0.72)< 0.0010.71 (0.67-0.74)< 0.0010.73 (0.68-0.78)< 0.001
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
NoReferenceReference
Yes0.76 (0.71-0.83)< 0.0010.82 (0.75-0.89)< 0.001
Radiotherapy
NoReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
Yes0.65 (0.62-0.68)< 0.0010.77 (0.73-0.82)< 0.0010.70 (0.66-0.73)< 0.0010.75 (0.71-0.80)< 0.001
Number of retrieved lymph nodes
ILAReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
ALA0.84 (0.79-0.88)< 0.0010.68 (0.64-0.71)< 0.0010.85 (0.81-0.90)< 0.0010.64 (0.60-0.68)< 0.001
OLA0.73 (0.68-0.79)< 0.0010.48 (0.44-0.52)< 0.0010.80 (0.74-0.86)< 0.0010.47 (0.43-0.51)< 0.001
Table 4 Propensity score matching subgroups
Characteristic
ALA, n = 1714
OLA, n = 1714
P value
Year of diagnosis0.978
2004-2006339 (20)334 (19)
2007-2009385 (23)394 (23)
2010-2012468 (27)471 (28)
2013-2015522 (30)515 (30)
Age at diagnosis (yr)0.861
Median (range)66 (14-98)66 (18-93)
Sex0.945
Male1011 (59)1013 (59)
Female703 (41)701 (41)
Race0.181
White972 (57)973 (57)
Black303 (18)268 (16)
Asian/Pacific439 (25)473 (28)
Marital status0.234
Single/divorced389 (23)378 (22)
Married1035 (60)1082 (63)
Widowed218 (13)183 (71)
NA72 (4)71 (4)
Insurance status0.958
Insured1305 (76)1312 (77)
Uninsured339 (20)334 (19)
NA70 (4)68 (4)
Primary site0.926
Fundus/body327 (19)333 (19)
Antrum/pylorus571 (33)553 (32)
Overlapping lesion235 (14)235 (14)
Stomach, NOS581 (34)593 (35)
Tumor size (cm)0.016
≤ 5737 (43)645 (38)
5.1-10663 (39)724 (42)
≥ 10.1222 (13)248 (15)
NA92 (5)97 (6)
Hystology0.046
ADC, NOS557 (32)538 (31)
Signet ring cell carcinoma492 (29)480 (28)
ADC, Instestinal type289 (17)313 (18)
Carcinoma, diffuse type177 (10)175 (10)
ADC with mixed subtypes69 (4)88 (5)
Other130 (8)110 (7)
Grade0.892
Well/moderately differentiated310 (18)319 (19)
Poorly/undifferentiated1351 (79)1345 (79)
NA53 (3)50 (3)
T stage, 8th ed.0.553
T159 (3)48 (3)
T2137 (8)132 (8)
T3769 (45)793 (46)
T4a597 (35)572 (33)
T4b152 (9)169 (10)
N stage, 8th ed.0.659
N0250 (15)259 (15)
N1252 (15)223 (13)
N2342 (20)340 (20)
N3a380 (22)380 (22)
N3b490 (29)512 (30)
Stage, 8th ed.0.808
IIA263 (15)253 (15)
IIB226 (13)215 (13)
IIIA351 (21)353 (21)
IIIB377 (22)365 (21)
IIIC497 (29)528 (30)
Chemotherapy 0.025
Yes1105 (65)1167 (32)
No609 (35)1167 (68)
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy< 0.001
Yes225 (13)310 (18)
No1499 (87)1404 (82)
Radiotherapy0.051
Yes718 (42)662 (39)
No996 (58)1052 (61)
Type of surgery< 0.001
Partial gastrectomy1099 (64)955 (56)
Total gastrectomy615 (36)759 (44)
Table 5 Kaplan-Meier estimates in propensity score matching subgroups

Median OS, mo(95%CI)
P value
Median CSS, mo(95%CI)
P value
ALA26 (23.5-28.4)< 0.00131 (27.3-34.7)< 0.001
OLA34 (30.0-38.0)42 (35.9-48.1)
Table 6 Overall survival Cox regression results for overall survival and cancer-specific survival after propensity score matching
Overall survival
Cancer-specific survival
VariableUnivariable
Multivariable1
Univariable
Multivariable1

HR (95%CI)
P value
HR (95%CI)
P value
HR (95%CI)
P value
HR (95%CI)
P value
Sex
MaleReferenceReference
Female0.98 (0.90-1.07)0.6621.03 (0.94-1.14)0.517
Age
< 70 ReferenceReference
≥ 70 1.56 (1.43-1.71)< 0.0011.35 (1.23-1.49)< 0.001
Race
White ReferenceReferenceReference
Black0.96 (0.85-1.08)0.5281.10 (0.97-1.24)0.1470.94 (0.83-1.08)0.3831.08 (0.94-1.23)0.274
Asian/pacific0.80 (0.72-0.89)< 0.0010.84 (0.75-0.93)0.0010.81 (0.72-0.90)< 0.0010.87 (0.77-0.97)0.014
Insurance status
NAReferenceReference
Insured0.87 (0.79-0.97)0.0090.87 (0.78-0.97)0.013
Uninsured0.99 (0.78-1.27)0.9720.96 (0.74-1.25)0.754
Site of tumor
Fundus-bodyReferenceReference
Antrum-pylorus1.07 (0.95-1.22)0.2751.11 (0.97-1.27)0.140
Overlapping lesion of the stomach1.33 (1.15-1.55)< 0.0011.39 (1.18-1.64)< 0.001
Stomach, NOS1.04 (0.92-1.18)0.5161.03 (0.90-1.19)0.631
Histology
ADC, NOSReferenceReferenceReference
Signet ring cell carcinoma1.26 (1.13-1.41)< 0.0011.37 (1.22-1.54)< 0.0011.22 (1.08-1.38)0.001
ADC, instestinal type0.89 (0.79-1.03)0.1140.81 (0.70-0.95)0.0080.91 (0.78-1.06)0.238
Carcinoma, diffuse type1.23(1.06-1.44)0.0081.29 (1.09-1.52)0.0031.18 (0.99-1.40)0.054
ADC with mixed subtypes1.15 (0.93-1.43)0.1931.28 (1.02-1.60)0.0321.13 (0.89-1.42)0.318
Other0.93 (0.77-1.13)0.4720.99 (0.81-1.21)0.9131.15 (0.93-1.41)0.199
T stage, 8th ed
T1ReferenceReference
T21.18 (0.83-1.67)0.3561.43 (0.91-2.24)0.121
T31.85 (1.37-2.51)< 0.0012.60 (1.74-3.87)< 0.001
T4a2.84 (2.10-3.86)< 0.0014.28 (2.87-6.39)< 0.001
T4b3.44 (2.49-4.75)< 0.0015.13 (3.39-7.77)< 0.001
N stage, 8th ed
N0ReferenceReference
N11.09 (0.89-1.34)0.3801.08 (0.86-1.36)0.518
N21.56 (1.31-1.87)< 0.0011.63 (1.33-1.99)< 0.001
N3a2.28 (1.93-2.69)< 0.0012.61 (2.16-3.16)< 0.001
N3b4.58 (3.91-5.37)< 0.0015.50 (4.59-6.58)< 0.001
Stage, 8th ed
IIAReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
IIB1.38 (1.12-1.70)0.0031.47 (1.18-1.81)< 0.0011.70 (1.33-2.18)< 0.0011.77 (1.38-2.29)< 0.001
IIIA1.96 (1.63-2.35)< 0.0012.21 (1.83-2.66)< 0.0012.39 (1.92-2.98)< 0.0012.66 (2.12-3.32)< 0.001
IIIB2.85 (2.39-3.40)< 0.0013.31 (2.76-3.96)< 0.0013.75 (3.04-6.64)< 0.0014.22 (3.40-5.23)< 0.001
IIIC5.73 (4.85-6.77)< 0.0016.32 (5.31-7.52)< 0.0018.06 (6.58-9.88)< 0.0018.58 (6.97-10.57)< 0.001
Grade
Well/moderately differentiatedReferenceReferenceReference
Poorly/undifferentiated1.52 (1.35-1.72)< 0.0011.19 (1.05-1.35)0.0071.70 (1.49-1.96)< 0.001
Type of surgery
Partial gastrectomyReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
Total gastrectomy1.40 (1.29-1.53)< 0.0011.28 (1.17-1.40)< 0.0011.43 (1.31-1.58)< 0.0011.24 (1.13-1.37)< 0.001
Chemotherapy
NoReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
Yes0.56 (0.51-0.61)< 0.0010.63 (0.56-0.70)< 0.0010.61 (0.55-0.67)< 0.0010.66 (0.89-0.74)< 0.001
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
NoReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
Yes0.71 (0.62-0.81)< 0.0011.48 (1.35-1.63)< 0.0010.76 (0.66-0.87)< 0.0011.33 (1.20-1.48)< 0.001
Radiotherapy
NoReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
Yes0.64 (0.59-0.70)< 0.0010.77 (0.69-0.86)< 0.0010.67 (0.61-0.73)< 0.0010.76 (0.68-0.85)< 0.001
Number of retrieved lymph nodes
ALAReferenceReferenceReferenceReference
OLA0.81 (0.75-0.89)< 0.0010.71 (0.65-0.78)< 0.0010.84 (0.76-0.92)< 0.0010.74 (0.67-0.82)< 0.001