LOWESS smoother fitting curves of stage migration and overall survival and determination of structural break points with use of the Chow test. The fitting bandwidth was 2/3. (A) and (B) Stage migration was estimated by logistic regression after adjusting for T staging, N staging, histology, tumor location, and operation type in both cohorts. (C) and (D) Overall survival was estimated by using the Cox proportional hazards regression model after adjusting for sex, age, T staging, histology, and operation type. ELN, examined lymph node.