Fig. 1
![Fig. 1](http://media.springernature.com/full/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1186%2Fs40880-019-0370-z/MediaObjects/40880_2019_370_Fig1_HTML.png)
Kaplan–Meier analysis showing the detailed survival differences of the study cohort using the different nodal classifications. Illustration of the overall survival of advanced gastric cancer patients using the a 8th AJCC N classification, b 8th AJCC N classification stratified into Limited (< 16 eLNs) and Adequate (≥ 16 eLNs) eLN cohort, and c the N′ classification, which re-classified the patients from the Limited eLN cohort only more homogenously based on their statistical differences in overall survival with patients from the Adequate eLN cohort. Note: the horizontal broken lines demonstrate the survival differences between c and a and simultaneously the rationale for formulating c from b. AJCC American Joint Committee on Cancer; N nodal, eLN pathologically examined lymph node, N′ modified nodal