AB04. Developing a novel nodal grading system to standardize nodal classification in gastric cancer patients with limited lymph node resection

Objective: To develop an easy applicable novel nodal grading system to improve the standardization of nodal classification in patients with limited lymphadenectomy.

Methods: We formulated a new approach of nodal classification to classify this category of patients. Log-rank test was used for univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. We used linear trend χ² test, likelihood ratio χ² test and Akaike information criterion (AIC) value to assess the homogeneity, discriminatory ability and monotonicity of gradients of the two nodal staging systems.

Results: Statistical analysis supported that both the hypothesized N’ stage and hypothesized TN’M stage outperforms the present AJCC/UICC staging system.

Conclusions: We developed an easy applicable and reproducible novel nodal grading system that has a greater predicting value than the current AJCC/UICC staging system to classify gastric cancer patients with limited lymphadenectomy.