254. THE IMPACT OF D2 VERSUS D1 LYMPHADENECTOMY IN SIEWERT II GASTROESOPHAGEAL JUNCTION (GEJ) CANCER

Abstract

Abstract Background Though a myriad of multimodal treatment options exist for gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, surgical resection remains the mainstay for potential cure. Extended nodal dissection with a D2 lymphadenectomy (LAD) beyond the D1 peri-gastric dissection remains controversial for Siewert II GEJ cancer. Though D2 LAD may lead to increased lymph node harvest, its effect on overall survival remains elusive. We hypothesize that additional D2 dissection in Siewert II GEJ cancer does not lead to increased survival. Methods We reviewed Siewert II GEJ cancer patients who received either a D1 or D2 LAD after receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation or perioperative chemotherapy from 2012 through 2022. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to compare categorical variables and two-sample Wilcoxon rank sum tests for non-normally distributed continuous variables. The main outcomes measured were 1-year mortality from date of diagnosis, number of nodes sampled, and operative time. Results Among the 155 patients identified, 75% of Siewert II underwent a D1 and 25% underwent a D2 LAD. Patients with a D2 LAD more often had >15 lymph nodes harvested than D1 (83% vs 48%, p < 0.001) but had no significant difference in median number of positive nodes (Figure 1). Patients with a D2 LAD had a median operative time approximately 2 hours longer than D1, 362 min vs 244 min (p < 0.001). On multivariable logistic regression adjusting for patient and clinical characteristics, there was no significant difference in 1-year mortality from patients undergoing a D2 vs D1 LAD. Conclusion Despite the associated high mortality associated with gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, there remains little consensus guidelines regarding the optimal preoperative and operative management. Though D2 LAD may theoretically lead to more lymph node harvest, its role in staging may be unnecessarily excessive as there is no gain in number of positive nodes leading to increased operative morbidity with no significant change in survival.