Objective  To explore the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of cervical cancer and risk factors of lymph node metastasis.

  Methods  Clinical data of 314 pathologically confirmed cervical cancer patients in Sun Yat-Sen University-Cancer Center from January 1999 to January 2005 were analyzed.

  Results  The 5-year survival rate of these 314 patients was 88.0% and the recurrence rate was 13.4%.In univariate survival analysis, the poor prognostic factors included deep stromal invasion, lymph vascular space involvement, and positive pelvic lymph nodes(P < 0.05), whereas in multivariate survival analysis, the independent prognostic factors included positive pelvic lymph nodes and deep stromal invasion(P < 0.05).Patients with≥3 pelvic lymph node metastasis had poorer prognosis than patients with < 3 pelvic lymph node metastasis(P = 0.032).Univariate analysis showed that the serum level of squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCCAg) > 3 ng/mL before treatment, clinical stage, tumor size, deep stromal invasion, lymph vascular space involvement, and positive parametrium were associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis(P < 0.05).Factors predictive of pelvic lymph node metastasis on logistic forward regression were SCCAg > 3 ng/mL before treatment(P < 0.001. OR = 4.966) and deep stromal invasion(P = 0.001, OR = 5.503).

  Conclusion  Lymph node metastasis and deep stromal invasion are independent risk factors for prognosis in cervical cancer.SCCAg > 3 ng/mL before treatment and deep stromal invasion are independent risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis.