Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ypN+ status according to ypT category in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision, and to assess the impact of ypN+ on disease recurrence and survival by pooled analysis of individual-patient data. Methods Individual-patient data from 10 studies of chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer were included. Pooled rates of ypN+ disease were calculated with 95 per cent confidence interval for each ypT category. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were undertaken to assess influence of ypN status on 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Data on 1898 patients were included in the study. Median follow-up was 50 (range 0–219) months. The pooled rate of ypN+ disease was 7 per cent for ypT0, 12 per cent for ypT1, 17 per cent for ypT2, 40 per cent for ypT3, and 46 per cent for ypT4 tumours. Patients with ypN+ disease had lower 5-year DFS and OS (46.2 and 63.4 per cent respectively) than patients with ypN0 tumours (74.5 and 83.2 per cent) (P < 0.001). Cox regression analyses showed ypN+ status to be an independent predictor of recurrence and death. Conclusion Risk of nodal metastases (ypN+) after chemoradiotherapy increases with advancing ypT category and needs to be considered if an organ-preserving strategy is contemplated.

The phenotypes and gene frequencies of 3 serum protein systems (Hp, GC and C3) were studied in 114 consecutive patients from all over Greece with gastric carcinoma. Healthy Greeks studied previously in our Department served as controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls concerning Hp. Significant differences were found in the GC and C3 systems; GC 2-1 and C3F phenotype as well as C3*F gene frequencies were significantly higher in patients than in controls.

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The phenotypes and gene frequencies of three serum protein systems – Hp, GC and C3 – were studied in 184 consecutive patients from all over Greece with colon cancer. Healthy Greeks studied previously in our department served as controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls concerning GC and C3. Significant differences were found in the Hp system; the frequencies of the Hp*1 gene and the Hp 1-1 phenotype were significantly higher in patients than in controls.

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