Log odds of positive lymph nodes may predict survival benefit in patients with node-positive non-small cell lung cancer

Of 5289 patients, 2297 (43.3%) had <10 LNs retrieved and 2992 (56.6%) had ≥10 LNs harvested. Multivariate Cox analysis adjusted for significant factors indicated that LODDS, npLNs, and LNR were independent risk factors for OS and CSS. A LODDS model had the best fit compared with LNR or npLN models in predicting OS and CSS (P < 0.001, ΔAIC = 0). LODDS was slightly superior to LNR for patients with <10 resected LNs, and LNR was slightly superior to LODDS for patients with ≥10 resected LNs (P < 0.001). Higher LODDS was associated with worse OS and worse CSS (log-rank P for both <0.001). LODDS and LNR staging schemes outperformed those of npLNs for predicting OS and CSS.