Prognostic value of lymph node micrometastases in patients with colorectal cancer in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4, N0, M0)

Background: 30% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4, N0, M0) present tumor recurrence and die after 5 years follow up This unexpectedly poor evolution might be attributable to the presence of lymph node micrometastasis undetected in routine examination with haematoxilin-eosine (H&E) Objective: to assess the presence of undetected micrometastasis Patients and methods: we conducted a retrospective study of the locoregional lymph nodes in 85 patients operated for CRC in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4. NO, MO). using immunohistochemistry with anticytokeratin antibodies AE1/AE3 In this descriptive, inferential bivariant and survival study, we analyzed different risk factors. including local infiltration T1/T4. Dukes A/B, number of dissected lymph nodes, vascular invasion. micrometastasis. tumor recurrence and death in the context of the presence or absence of micrometastases Results: Dukes stage and neoplastic angioinvasion are influential in patient prognosis, however, lymph node micrometastases were not associated with a poorer outcome of CRC Conclusions: locorregional lymph node micrometastases detected with anticytokeratine antibodies AE1/AE3 in Dukes A and B CRC patients are not associated with reduced survival