OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors for early recurrence (recurrence within 2 years) of proximal gastric cancer after radical resection.

METHODSThe clinical data of 367 proximal gastric cancer patients who underwent radical resection in the Cancer Institute and Hospital of Tianjin Medical University between January 2000 and May 2006 were reviewed. Among them, there are 71 patients (19.3%) with early recurrence. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were applied to investigate risk factors for early recurrence.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that Borrmann type (P<0.01), histology type (P<0.01), depth of invasion (P<0.05), negative lymph nodes count (P<0.05) were risk factors for early recurrence of proximal gastric. On multivariate analysis, histology type (P<0.05), depth of invasion (P<0.05), negative lymph nodes counts (P<0.05) were independent risk factors for early recurrence of proximal gastric cancer. Negative lymph nodes in early recurrence patients were 8.4 ± 7.2, which were significantly less as compared to patients without early recurrence (10.7 ± 8.7) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor T3 proximal gastric adenosquamous cancer, extended resection and lymphadenectomy should be considered. Intraoperative or postoperative adjuvant treatment should be administered as routine.