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2023 OCT 14 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Fresh data on gastric cancer are presented in a new report. According [...]

2023 SEP 23 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- A new study on Oncology - Colon Cancer is now available. According [...]

2022 APR 30 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on colon cancer have been published. According to news [...]

Background. The question of whether lymphatic permeation in rectal carcinoma is an index of prognosis remains controversial. Methods. A long term prospective study of lymphatic permeation of 288 rectal carcinomas was performed. The degree of lymphatic permeation was divided into four stages (Ly0 through Ly3). The median follow-up for the surviving patients was 84 months (range, 23 to 151 months). Results. In patients with UICC Stage I or II disease, there was no correlation between the Ly0 and Ly1-3 groups' recurrence or survival rates. In patients with Stage IIIa disease, the rate of postoperative recurrence was significantly higher in the Ly1 or Ly2 + Ly3 groups compared with the Ly0 group. The 10-year survival and disease free survival rates in patients with Stage IIIa disease were both 90.0% in the Ly0 group, 63.6% and 62.5% in the Ly1 group, and 52.0% and 45.5% in the Ly2 + Ly3 groups, respectively. A significant difference was noted in the survival rates between the Ly0 and Ly2 + Ly3 groups (P < 0.05), and was noted in the disease free survival rates between the Ly0 and Ly1 (or Ly2 + Ly3) groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.005). In patients with Stage IIIb disease, there were trends toward higher recurrence, lower survival, or disease free survival rates in the Ly2 + Ly3 groups compared with the Ly1 group (P < 0.1). Conclusions. The degree of lymphatic permeation is an important prognostic factor in patients with Stage III disease, especially in those with Stage IIIa disease. It should be classified as a clinical subgroup.

Background: If axillary lymph node status of breast cancer patients could be accurately predicted from basic clinical information and from characteristics of their primary tumors, then many patients could be spared axillary lymph node dissection. Tumor size alone does not allow the identification of groups with very low or high risk of being axillary node positive. Purpose: Our goal was to investigate the possibility of using prognostic indicators to predict axillary node status of patients with primary breast cancer. Methods: Data from 26 683 patients from the National Breast Cancer Tissue Resource were used in this study. Patients in this dataset were randomly assigned to a training set (patient information used to construct predictive models) or a validation set (patient information used to prospectively evaluate predictive models). The records of a total of 11 964 case patients that had complete prognostic factors and pathologic data were analyzed: 5963 patients in the training set and 6001 patients in the validation set. All of the patients studied had tumors 5 cm or less in size and at least 15 axillary lymph nodes that had been examined. Data used for construction of the predictive models were available for all patients and included tumor size, number of nodes positive, patient age, quantitative estrogen receptor levels, quantitative progesterone receptor (PgR) levels, DNA flow cytometry-derived ploidy, and S-phase fraction. Logistic regression models were used to predict nodal status. Results: Multivariate predictive models were produced that used tumor size, patient age, S phase, and PgR as independent predictors. These models allowed identification of patient risks of being node positive ranging from 6%-79% and as having 10 or more positive nodes ranging from less than 1% to slightly more than 30%. Conclusion: Addition of prognostic indicator information to tumor size can refine estimates of whether a patient is likely to be node positive. However, no patient subsets could be identified as having greater than 95% chance of being node negative or node positive. Implications: These predictive models cannot alleviate the necessity of axillary node dissection for staging of breast cancer patients in situations in which nodal status would affect therapeutic decisions. Subsets of patients could be identified who had a less than 5% chance of having 10 or more positive nodes. Thus, some patients could be spared axillary dissection if it was being performed solely to identify patients with this high-risk feature. [J Natl Cancer Inst 86:1771-1775, 1994!

Background. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic importance of c-erbB2 overexpression in a standardized cohort of patients with axillary lymph node positive breast cancer. Methods. Paraffin embedded primary breast cancers from 354 patients with axillary lymph node positive breast cancer, treated on a North Central Cancer Treatment Group adjuvant protocol, were studied immunohistochemically. c-erbB2 staining was classified as negative, weak (1+), moderate (2+), or strong (3+) and was assessed for effectiveness as a predictor of outcome in univariate and Cox model multivariate analyses. Results. Twenty percent of specimens exhibited moderate or strong c-erbB2 staining. The median disease free survival period of the strong staining group was 2.9 years, compared with 7.1 years for all other patients (P = 0.01). The median overall survival for the strong staining group was 5 years, compared with 12 years for all other patients (P = 0.03). A definite correlation was noted between degree of nodal involvement and the likelihood of strong cerbB2 staining (P = 0.001). There was also a significant correlation between c-erbB2 staining and higher nuclear grade and estrogen receptor negativity. In a multivariate analysis, c-erbB2 staining was not a significant predictor of either disease free survival or overall survival. Conclusion. According to this analysis, the strong correlation between c-erbB2 expression and degree of nodal involvement, higher grade disease, and estrogen receptor negativity suggests expression of this protooncogene product in a biologically more aggressive form of breast cancer. In a multivariate analysis, c-erbB2 expression was not an independent prognostic factor. Thus, cerbB2 assessment did not appear to add significantly to the information provided by currently available standard disease parameters. Cancer 1994; 74:2956-63.

Background. A retrospective investigation of 53 consecutively treated patients with operable lobular carcinoma of the breast, with a median follow-up of 6.6 years, was performed to examine the prognostic value of quantitative histopathologic parameters. Methods. The measurements were performed in routinely processed histologic sections using a simple, unbiased technique for the estimation of the three-dimensional mean nuclear volume ([v.sub.v](nuc)). In addition, quantitative estimates were obtained of the mitotic index (MI), the nuclear index (NI), the nuclear volume fraction ([V.sub.v(nuc/tis)), and the mean nuclear profile area (a.sub.h](nuc)). Results. Estimates of [v.sub.v](nuc), MI, NI, and [V.sub.v](nuc/tis) were of significant or marginally significant prognostic value in univariate analyses, whereas no prognostic significance was attributed to estimates of [a.sub.H],(nuc). In multivariate Cox analyses, the clinical stage of disease, [v.sub.v](nuc), MI, and NI were of significant independent, prognostic value. On the basis of the multivariate analyses, a prognostic index with highly distinguishing capacity between prognostically poor and favorable cases was constructed. Conclusion. Quantitative histopathologic variables are of value for objective grading of malignancy in lobular carcinomas. The new parameter - estimates of the mean nuclear volume - is highly reproducible and suitable for routine use. However, larger and prospective studies are needed to establish the true value of the quantitative histopathologic variables in the clinical management of patients with breast cancer.

Background. The prognosis of patients who have non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with mediastinal lymph node metastases remains a controversial issue. This study was performed to evaluate survival by level of mediastinal lymph node metastasis and the number of mediastinal levels involved. Methods. The authors retrospectively reviewed the cases of 113 patients with NSCLC and pathologic mediastinal lymph node involvement who underwent a complete tumor resection and ipsilateral mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Results. Most patients presented with involvement of only one mediastinal lymph node level (68.2%). The overall survival rate was 17% at 3 years. No differences in survival were observed in relation to which lymph node level was involved (P = 0.667). Differences in survival based on the number of lymph node levels involved were statistically significant (P = 0.001). Conclusions. Although there were no differences in survival when only one of any of the three defined levels was involved, metastasis to more than one level was associated with significantly poorer survival.

Background. Extracapsular extension of nodal metastases from cancer of the breast is a frequent histologic finding, but its significance for prognosis and treatment is unclear. Methods. One hundred forty-three patients with breast cancer who had metastases to axillary lymph nodes were identified and divided into two groups: those with entirely intracapsular metastases (ICM), and those with extracapsular metastases (ECM). Results. ECM was found in 58.7% of patients. A direct correlation was found between ECM and both the number of metastases and their size. Overall survival was significantly lower in patients with ECM, but an influence on survival independent of node count could be demonstrated only in patients with one to three involved nodes. ECM did not influence the pattern (i.e., locoregional versus distant) of recurrence and was not associated with increased recurrence in the axilla. Radiation therapy reduced locoregional failures in both ICM and ECM groups, but it did not improve survival. Conclusions. It is concluded that ECM has limited influence on prognosis independent of the number of positive nodes and is not an indication for radiation therapy of the axilla after a complete axillary dissection.

Background. Although it is important to determine any relationship between tumor DNA ploidy and its biologic behavior, the correlation between DNA-ploidy and the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer is not conclusive. Accordingly, the authors evaluated the clinical application of DNA ploidy in ovarian cancer. Methods. Flow cytometric measurements were performed in 45 selected patients with well-differentiated serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary, Stages Ic-IV. All of them had the same surgical procedure, with retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy including paraaortic nodes, followed by the same postoperative chemotherapeutic regimen. Results. Of the 45 ovarian cancers, 28 were diploid and 17 were aneuploid. The 2-year survival rate and the estimated 5-year survival rate for patients with diploid tumors were significantly greater than those for patients with aneuploid tumors (73.2% versus 46.7% and 29.1% versus 22.4%, respectively). The 2-year survival rate in patients with advanced disease (Stage III or IV) was also significantly higher for those with diploid tumors (53.3% versus 37.4%, respectively), but the estimated 5-year survival rate was similar in both groups (8.9% versus 9.1%, respectively). Patients with advanced disease had aneuploid tumors more frequently than those with early-stage disease. A significantly higher incidence of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis was observed in aneuploid tumors than in diploid tumors (43.8% in diploid tumors versus 86.7% in aneuploid tumors). The authors found no difference in the response to chemotherapy between diploid and aneuploid tumors. Conclusions. Although tumor DNA ploidy was not as reliable as conventional parameters such as surgical stage in establishing prognosis, it may provide an indicator of lymph node involvement.

Background. Many pathologic features of breast carcinomas have been proposed as prognostic correlates; their interrelationships and their relative value as prognostic indicators were studied. Methods. A series of 399 axillary lymph node-positive infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas was studied histologically and compared with the patient prognosis. Results. Many pathologic findings fit into two groups of closely related features - those related to the extent of local spread and those related to histologic anaplasia and mitotic count. Both groups correlated with the primary tumor size. The best predictors of long-term survival were measures of the extent of axillary metastasis (the number of axillary metastases, the size of the largest metastasis, and lymph node capsular invasion), which are components of the pathologic node stage. The mitotic count, tumor grade, primary tumor stage, smooth tumor border, tumor necrosis, and multifocal primary tumors were weaker but significant survival correlates. The mitotic count and Bloom-Richardson grade best predicted the survival time of patients with node-positive disease who died. Four years after diagnosis, less than 25% of the patients who would die of breast carcinoma in the low mitotic count and Bloom-richardson Grade 1 (well differentiated) groups already had died; more than 75% of those in the high mitotic count and Bloom-Richardson Grade 3 (poorly differentiated) groups already had died. Among patients with small tumors (< 1.8 cm in diameter), those with one micrometastasis (1-2 mm) had a worse prognosis than those with uninvolved lymph nodes of similar size.

During the last decade, several analyses of prognostic factors for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have been reported. Although these studies have established a framework for rational treatment planning, they have not fully answered questions regarding the prognostic significance of cervical lymph node metastases. An analysis of patients treated for DTC at our institution over a 34-year period has shown several factors to be significant by log-rank analysis, including the presence of cervical lymph node metastases, age greater than or equal to 50 years, a primary cancer size of greater than 3.O cm, and distant metastases. Further analysis has shown the node*negative and node-positive patient groups to be similar in regard to age, size of primary cancer, and the presence of distant metastases. This report compares our data with those of other studies that have investigated the association of cervical lymph node metastases and a poorer prognosis in patients with DTC. When considered as a group, these studies support the finding of the prognostic significance of cervical lymph node metastases, particularly that of palpable lymphadenopathy in older patients.

The relationship was assessed between c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression and other prognostic factors in breast cancer, such as axillary and internal mammary node metastases. The value of these indicators was analyzed in estimating prognosis, especially in patients with axillary node-positive breast cancer. These results showed that c-erbB-2 is significantly related to clinical stage and axillary node metastases. A univariate study revealed that disease-free and overall survival were correlated significantly with clinical stage, tumor size, axillary and internal mammary node metastases, and 21N status. Among the patient with axillary node involvement, however, 21N status did not appear to be a significant additional prognostic factor. Internal mammary node metastases were significant. In a multivariate study, only axillary and internal mammary node metastases were significant prognostic factors for either the entire group of patients or those with positive axillary nodes. Therefore, axillary node dissection and biopsy of the internal mammary nodes may provide important prognostic information for patients with breast cancer. Cancer 1992; 69:2953-2960.

Malignant melanoma is a tumor, usually involving the skin, which contains melanocytes (cells that produce melanin, the black or brown pigment that occurs naturally in the skin, hair, and iris of the eye). A major factor determining the patient's outcome is whether or not there is metastasis (the spread of the cancer) to the lymph nodes in the region. A study was undertaken to reevaluate several factors indicative of prognosis and to try to develop an index including the significant prognostic factors. The records of 1,019 patients who underwent axillary (armpit) or inguinal (groin) lymph node dissection were reviewed; 449 patients were found to have positive nodes. Analysis of these cases revealed that pathologic stage was the major factor determining survival. There were 350 patients (78 percent) who were stage PS-III (one node group positive); survival for these patients at five years was 39 percent, and at 10 years, 32 percent. Independent factors improving prognosis were primary site not on the trunk of the body, only microscopic involvement of the nodes, less than three positive lymph nodes, and absence of cancer outside the nodes. There were 99 patients (22 percent) classified as PS-IV; survival was 9 percent at both 5 and 10 years. Favorable factors within this group included: female sex, absence of extranodal disease, and a long time interval between diagnosis and lymph node surgery. A model predicting relative risk of death from melanoma for patients with PS-III and PS-IV stage disease is presented; this model separates patients into low, intermediate, and high risk for recurrence following lymph node removal. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Three hundred thirteen patients with T1 or T2 tumors of the piriform fossa (n = 181) or epilarynx (n = 132), all with involved nodes (57 N1, 101 N2a, 52 N2b, 25 N2c, 76 N3), were included in a multicenter study. Twenty-one percent were treated with radical neck dissection and radiotherapy to the neck and tumor, 17% by partial laryngeal surgery and radical neck dissection plus postoperative radiotherapy (RT), and 62% by RT only, with surgery in reserve. After treatment, residual tumor was present in 26 patients and residual nodes in 24. Recurrences were local in 27 patients and nodal in 46. Distant metastasis occurred in 28% of the patients. Among 173 patients who died, local failure occurred in 45 (isolated in 20), nodal failure in 70 (isolated in 39), and distant metastasis in 95 (isolated in 68). The median survival was 18 months. The survival rate of the 313 patients was 32% at 3 years and 18% at 5 years, with no difference according to location, protocol, nodal level, or regional nodal status, except for the 76 patients with N3 disease (3-year survival: 17%)., The combination of small primary cancer with associated lymph node invasion (metastasis) has a poor prognosis, and the optimal treatment has not yet been agreed upon. Cancer of the pharyngolaryngeal area (area between the hyoid bone at the base of the tongue and the esophagus) with nodal involvement may be treated in very different manners. A study was undertaken of 313 patients with T1 or T2 cancer of the pharyngolaryngeal area with palpable lymph nodes, using three different treatment protocols. T1 and T2 refer to the stages of cancer, indicating progressive increase in tumor size and involvement; a T1 the tumor is small, but has encroached on the basement layer of the tissue; a T2 tumor is larger and more deeply involved. The treatment protocols were: P1, complete removal of cervical lymph nodes and postoperative radiotherapy; P2, partial pharyngolaryngeal surgery, as well as complete removal of cervical nodes and postoperative radiotherapy; and P3, radiotherapy only. The average patient age was 58 years, and all but one patient was male. The average interval between the initial symptom and medical evaluation was 3.5 months. The most frequently used treatment protocol was P3, radiotherapy only, (62 percent); 21 percent of patients underwent the P1 protocol; 17 percent received the P2 protocol. Average survival was 19 months for patients treated by methods P1 and P2, and 16 months for the P3 treated patients. The type of treatment did not significantly influence survival; overall survival averaged 18 months. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Melanoma is a group of malignant conditions usually involving the skin and containing melanocytes (cells that produce melanin, the pigment that occurs naturally in the skin, hair and iris of the eye). The prognosis of patients with melanoma who have cancer spread to the lymph nodes is much better than that of patients with cancer spread beyond the lymph nodes. The prognosis of patients who have cancer spread to two or more noncontiguous (nonadjacent) lymph nodes, without evidence of spread beyond the lymph nodes has not been determined. A review was undertaken of 175 patients with melanoma who were undergoing removal of the lymph glands; 21 patients (12 percent) with metastatic spread to two or more noncontiguous lymph node sites were identified. The medical records of these patients were studied in detail. Half the patients survived longer than 46 months. Two years following surgery for removal of the second group of lymph nodes, 55 percent of the patients were alive; at five years, 27 percent and at 10 years, 17 percent. The prognosis of patients with metastasis to two or more regional groups of lymph nodes appears to be equivalent to that of melanoma patients who have metastasis to only one group of regional lymph nodes. This similarity suggests that patients with cancer spread to two or more groups of lymph nodes should undergo removal of the lymph glands with the intent to cure the disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

In lung cancer patients, the extent of lymph node metastases has the most important impact on the prognosis. In particular, patients with mediastinal lymph node metastases have a wors prognosis [...]

Mammography (X-ray study of the breast) screening for breast cancer has identified many noninvasive cancers as well as small invasive cancers. Often these nonpalpable invasive cancers have significant metastasis (spread) to the nearby lymph nodes. A study was undertaken to correlate tumor size, histology (tissue characteristics) and nodes positive for cancer with patient outcome. During a 10-year period mammography identified 1,464 breast abnormalities which were biopsied; 18 percent were found to be cancerous. Of these 264 breast cancers, 86 (33 percent) were invasive cancers. The main finding on mammography was a mass or density in the breast; other findings were either microcalcification (small deposits of calcium in tissue), or both mass and microcalcification. Sixty-three of the 86 cases were ductal cancer. Mastectomy (breast removal) was performed in 71 cases (82 percent), lumpectomy (removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue) with radiation in 14 (16 percent), and lumpectomy only in one case. The lesion size was less than 0.5 cm in 19 cases (22 percent), with no positive nodes; between 0.6 to 1 cm in 39 cases (46 percent), with 10 positive nodes; over 1.0 cm in 28 cases (32 percent), with 8 positive nodes. Overall 32 percent of the lesions were associated with nodes positive for cancer. Average patient follow-up has been 44 months. Disease-free survival is 92 percent; overall survival is 94 percent. There have been seven tumor recurrences, six in patients who had had positive lymph nodes. The disease-free survival for patients with negative lymph nodes is 98 percent. These findings reemphasize the benefit of mammography in the detection of early breast cancer. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

About half of all patients with stage I or stage II breast cancer have metastatic spread of cancer to the axillary (armpit) lymph nodes. Excision of these nodes, routinely performed to remove metastasis, provides information on prognosis and used to select patients for chemo- and radiation therapy. The presence and number of metastatic lymph nodes is an indicator of prognosis. Axillary lymph node metastasis may be divided into three anatomic levels indicating their proximity to the pectoralis minor muscle of the upper chest wall. The prognostic value of the anatomic level of metastatic involvement remains controversial. A study was undertaken of 135 patients with breast cancer to determine the prognostic significance of the level of axillary node metastasis. Patients had stage I or stage II cancer and underwent either a modified radical mastectomy (removal of the breast) or lumpectomy (removal of the lump) with removal of axillary nodes and radiotherapy. Seventy-one patients had no axillary metastasis. The average patient follow-up was 6.9 years. It was found that there was no significant difference in survival or disease-free survival between patients whose highest level of metastasis was level I compared with patients whose highest level was level II. Patients with level III involvement did have significantly worse survival. However, when these patients were grouped by total number of metastatic lymph nodes, there was no difference in overall survival compared with patients with level I or level II involvement. These results show that for patients with stage II breast cancer, the level of node involvement is not an independent predictor of survival. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Advances in local and regional treatment of breast cancer have been made as a result of better understanding of the natural history and biology of the disease. With the increased use of screening mammography and earlier diagnosis of breast cancer, lesions such as intraductal breast cancer with microinvasion will be identified more frequently. Because this cancer has been part of a group of cancers called ''minimal breast cancer'', there is little natural history data available on intraductal breast cancer with microinvasion. Minimally invasive cancer accounts for about 8.4 percent of all breast cancers in women; the incidence of cancer with microinvasion is not known, but at one major institution it represents 2 percent of all breast cancers admitted. A review of 41 women with intraductal breast cancer with microinvasion is presented. The average age of the patients was 54 years. The cancer was identified by mammography alone in 23 patients; 17 patients had a palpable mass; and 1 patient had a nipple lesion. As part of their treatment, 33 patients had axillary lymph node dissection (removal); no lymph node metastases were identified. Diagnosis of microinvasion was based on findings of breast cancer cells confined to the mammary duct system, with only a microscopic focus of cells extending beyond the basement (lowest) membrane of the duct. The average follow-up for 37 patients was 47 months, with no recurrence and no deaths. The findings indicate that intraductal breast cancer with microinvasion has an extremely favorable prognosis with minimal risk of metastasis (spread) to the lymph nodes. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Malignant melanoma is cancer of melanocytes (cells that produce the pigment melanin), which is usually found on the skin. The spread of this cancer to the regional lymph nodes is a major factor in determining prognosis. The usefulness of 14 variables in establishing the prognosis of patients with malignant melanoma and cancer-positive regional lymph nodes in the armpit area (axilla) was evaluated. Medical records of 197 patients with metastatic melanoma (melanoma that has spread from the primary to a secondary site) to the axillary lymph nodes were reviewed. All patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection. Three factors were significant independent predictors of survival: percent of positive nodes; absence of disease outside the node (extranodal); and site of melanoma. By combining these variables, subgroups of patients with differing prognoses were created. A good outcome could be expected for patients with 10 percent or less positive nodes, no extranodal disease, and melanoma located outside the trunk of the body. Poor prognosis was predicted for patients with extranodal disease and lesions on the trunk. There was always an unfavorable prognosis when there was a very high percent of positive lymph nodes. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Cancer may sometimes spread (metastasize) from a primary tumor that cannot be located. In about three to eight percent of patients with metastatic melanoma, no primary site can be found. Forty-five to 60 percent of these patients have metastasis to the lymph nodes. Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm composed of melanocytes (cells that produce pigment), and usually occurs on the skin. Melanomas occur most frequently in people with fair-skin and light eyes. It is not known if patients with metastasis from an unknown primary site have a different prognosis from patients with a known and properly treated primary melanoma. Twenty-six patients who were treated surgically for lymph node metastasis from melanoma with an unknown primary site were analyzed. Six patients had a previous history of spontaneous regression of a possible primary tumor. After removal of the affected lymph nodes was performed, the overall disease-free survival rate was 49 percent after 10 years. Analysis revealed that only metastasis to the cervical or neck lymph nodes carried a significant and unfavorable influence on survival. Radical neck dissection is recommended in patients with metastatic melanoma from an unknown site. The survival rate of this group was comparable or better than patients with known primary site. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Patients with primary cutaneous melanoma who have positive sentinel lymph nodes have a notably adverse prognosis, compared with patients who have negative sentinel nodes. The pattern of [...]

The researchers of the National Prostatic Cancer Treatment Group have followed 212 patients with confirmed stage D-1 prostatic cancer. Fifty-one of these patients were treated with surgery, and 161 with radiotherapy. All patients received some sort of adjuvant chemotherapy. The anatomical locations of involved lymph nodes were tabulated to discover if this information has prognostic value. There has been some controversy regarding the involvement of lymph nodes and the prognosis of prostate cancer; in the present study the involvement of fewer than 20 percent of the examined nodes had a significantly better prognosis than did the involvement of more than 20 percent. It is worth noting that if the data are examined in terms of actual number of nodes involved, there is no prognostic value. That is, if the involvement of one to three nodes is compared with the involvement of more than 3, there is no significant difference in the survival. The data gave no indication that the location of the involved lymph nodes was of any prognostic value. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)