OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinicopathological characteristics and analyze the prognostic factors of young patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSA total of 99 patients with the age less than or equal to 40 were admitted in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from August 2001 to December 2009. Their clinicopathological and follow-up data were compared with middle-aged and elderly patients with the age more than 40.

RESULTSThere were statistically significant differences in gender, tumor location, Borrmann type, histological type, differentiated histology, depth of invasion, peritoneal metastasis between young patients and elder ones. The 5-year survival rates of young and elder patients were 49.1% and 44.4% respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that TNM stage (P=0.014) and surgical methods (P=0.012) were independent predictive factors of survival for young patients. For the young patients, the 5-year survival rate was 56.7% after curative resection, 11.1% after palliative resection. Those who underwent palliative surgery or biopsy alone died within 1 year after surgery. The difference between difference surgical procedures in survival were statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAs compared to elder patients, young patients with gastric cancer have special clinicopathological features. However, no significant difference of survival rate is found between the young and the elder patients. TNM stage and surgical methods are independent prognostic factors of young patients with gastric cancer. Radical resection appears to confer the only chance of prolonged survival.