BACKGROUNDThe prognosis for patients with gastric cancer and synchronous liver metastases is very poor. However, a standard therapeutic strategy has not been well established. The clinical benefit and prognostic factors after hepatic surgical treatment for liver metastases from gastric cancer remain controversial.

METHODSRecords of 105 patients who underwent gastrectomy regardless of hepatic surgical treatment for gastric cancer with synchronous liver-only metastases in our center between 1995 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSThe overall survival rate for the 105 patients was 42.1%, 17.2%, and 10.6% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, with a median survival time of 11 months. Multivariate survival analysis revealed that the extent of lymphadenectomy (D) (P < 0.001), lymph node metastases (P < 0.001), extent of liver metastases (H) (P = 0.008), and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.002) were significant independent prognostic factors for survival. Among patients who underwent D2 lymphadenectomy, those who underwent hepatic surgical treatment had a significantly improved survival compared with those who underwent gastrectomy alone (median survival, 24 vs. 12 months; P < 0.001). However, hepatic surgical treatment was not a prognostic factor for patients who underwent D1 lymphadenectomy (median survival, 8 vs. 8 months; P = 0.495). For the 35 patients who underwent gastrectomy plus hepatic surgical treatment, D2 lymphadenectomy (P < 0.001), lymph node metastases (P = 0.015), and extent of liver metastases (H1 vs. H2 and H3) (P = 0.017) were independent significant prognostic factors for survival.

CONCLUSIONSD2 lymphadenectomy plus hepatic surgical treatment may provide hope for long-term survival of judiciously selected patients with hepatic metastases from gastric cancer. Patients with a low degree of lymph node metastases and H1 liver metastases would make the most appropriate candidates. However, if D2 dissection cannot be achieved, hepatic surgical treatment is not recommended.