Preoperatively predicting the lymph node metastasis and prognosis for gastric cancer patients

The preoperative distinguishment of lymph nodes (LN) with metastasis plays a pivotal role in guiding the surgical extension for gastric cancer (GC). We aim to identify the preparative risk factors for LN metastasis in GC patients. We retrospectively reviewed 424 patients who underwent radical GC resection in our medical center between Jan 2011 and Dec 2018. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify risk factors for LN metastasis, while multivariate COX regression was utilized to evaluate prognostic factors. The median overall survival of patients with or without LN metastases was 31 and 58 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, lower albumin (OR = 0.512; P = 0.004) and prealbumin (OR = 0.367, P = 0.001) and higher CEA (OR = 3.178, P