4.

Multivariate analysis of significant N-stage systems

Factor	Contrast	HR	95% CI	P
UICC, Union for International Cancer Control; MLR, metastatic lymph node ratio; LODDS, log odds of positive lymph nodes; HR, hazard risk; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval.
6th UICC N-stage	I vs. 0	2.10	1.17–3.75	0.012
	II vs. 0	4.97	2.58–9.56	<0.001
	III vs. 0	3.00	0.68–13.19	0.144
7th UICC N-stage	I vs. 0	1.83	0.92–3.64	0.084
	II vs. 0	2.48	1.24–4.95	0.010
	III vs. 0	4.70	2.47–8.92	<0.001
8th UICC N-stage	I vs. 0	1.83	0.92–3.64	0.084
	II vs. 0	2.47	1.23–4.94	0.010
	IIIa vs. 0	4.98	2.59–9.59	<0.001
	IIIb vs. 0	3.02	0.69–13.27	0.142
MLR (%)	0.1–20.0 vs. 0	1.59	0.66–3.81	0.295
	20.1–50.0 vs. 0	2.21	1.11–4.41	0.023
	≥50.1 vs. 0	3.89	2.14–7.08	<0.001
LODDS	–1.125 – –0.251 vs. < –1.125	1.99	0.82–4.82	0.128
	–0.250 – 0.749 vs. < –1.125	4.83	1.97–11.87	<0.001
	≥0.750 vs. < –1.125	9.17	3.25–25.87	<0.001