ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between metastatic lymph node ratio (MLNR) and prognosis of patients after radical resection of distal gastric cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 408 patients undergoing radical resection of distal gastric cancer (D2 or D2+ lymph node dissection) in Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, from January 2010 to January 2014. Then we explored the influence of MLNR on the prognosis after radical resection of distal gastric cancer.ResultsWithout distinguishing pTNM staging, the overall survival situation of patient with MLNR≥0.15 and patient with MLNR<0.15 was statistically significant (χ2=3.775, P=0.046); when patients with staging of pTNM Ⅰ, there was no statistically significant MLNR could be calculated; when patients with staging of pTNM Ⅱ, the overall survival situation of patient with MLNR≥0.14 and patient with MLNR<0.14 was statistically significant (χ2=3.110, P=0.029); when patients with staging of pTNM Ⅲ, the overall survival situation of patient with MLNR≥0.10 and patient with MLNR<0.10 was statistically significant (χ2=1.631, P=0.004). Multivariate analysis showed that depth of invasion (pT stage) and MLNR were independent prognostic factors for prognosis of patients after radical resection of distal gastric cancer (P<0.05).ConclusionMLNR is a good prognostic indicator for patients with distal gastric cancer after radical resection.