OBJECTIVETo compare the clinicopathological features of signet ring cell gastric carcinoma (SRCC) with those of non-signet ring cell cancers and explore the prognostic factors of signet ring cell gastric carcinoma.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1447 gastric cancer patients, including gastric signet ring cell and non-signet ring cell cancers. Their clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival data were analyzed.

RESULTSThe differences in the age, sex, tumor location, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, TNM classification and surgical type were significant between gastric signet ring cell and non-signet ring cell gastric carcinomas. The 5-year survival rate of the patients with gastric signet ring cell carcinoma was 29.6%, while that of the non-signet ring cell cancers was 42.9% (P < 0.05). The 5-year survival rate for each stage of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma and non-signet ring cell cancers was 71.0% and 79.3% for stage I, 45.6% and 58.3% for stage II, 16.9% and 29.2% for stage III, and 6.0% and 11.9% for stage IV cases, respectively, with a significant difference only between stages III and IV cancers (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor diameter, T stage and N stage were independent prognostic factors for signet ring cell gastric carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSThe signet ring cell gastric carcinoma has unique clinicopathological features compared with non-signet ring cell carcinoma. Early detection and treatment can improve the prognosis for patients with gastric signet ring cell carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the prognostic influence of preoperative weight loss for gastric cancer.

METHODSA total of 672 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy between January 2003 and December 2007 were enrolled. The patients were categorized into three groups according to the percentage of weight loss before surgery: no weight loss group (0%), limited group ( < 10%), and severe group ( ≥ 10%). Compared the clinicopathologic characteristics and analyzed the prognostic influence of preoperative weight loss. The survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival cure and the prognostic factors were analyzed univariately and multivariately by Cox comparative hazard modal.

RESULTSAmong the 672 cases gastric cancer, no weight loss group had 275 cases, limited group 294 cases, severe group 103 cases. Tumor size (F = 4.386) , tumor location (χ² = 15.864), depth of invasion (χ² = 22.245) , the number of lymph node metastasis (χ² = 23.803), Surgical approach (χ² = 18.423) , extent of lymphadenectomy (χ² = 8.172) , curability (χ² = 15.650) were discrepant among the three groups (all P < 0.05) . The 5-year survival rate of the patients with severe group was 28.0%, limited group was 37.7%, while the no weight loss group was 40.3% (χ² = 20.148, P < 0.05). Age (95% CI: 0.480 - 0.744, P = 0.000), weight loss before surgery (95% CI: 0.371 - 0.687, P = 0.000), depth invasion (95% CI: 0.289 - 0.564, P = 0.000), lymph node metastasis (95% CI: 0.451 - 0.783, P = 0.000), extent of lymphadenectomy (95% CI: 0.647 - 0.990, P = 0.000), curability (95% CI: 0.291 - 0.486, P = 0.000), postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (95% CI: 0.511 - 0.846, P = 0.000) were associated with survival of this group. In multivariate analysis, age (HR = 1.618, 95% CI: 1.298 - 2.016, P = 0.000), weight loss before surgery (HR = 1.258, 95%CI: 1.077 - 1.469, P = 0.004), depth of invasion (HR = 1.810, 95% CI: 1.287 - 2.545, P = 0.000), N stage (HR = 1.555, 95% CI: 1.413 - 1.172, P = 0.000) were independent prognostic factors for survival.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with weight loss above 10% have poor prognosis. Weight loss before surgery may be an important independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Preoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Survival Analysis ; Weight Loss ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the necessity of para-aortic lymph nodal dissection in D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer in N3 stage.

METHODSA total of 278 gastric cancer patients staged N3 who underwent gastrectomy between January 2003 and December 2007 were enrolled. There were 180 male and 98 female patients, and the patients' age were 26-93 years (median was 61 years). All patients had undergone surgical treatment. There were R0 resection in 246 cases and R1 resection in 32 cases. Lymph node dissection included D1 lymphadenectomy with 125 cases, D2 lymphadenectomy with 109 cases and D2+para-aortic lymph nodal dissection(PAND) with 44 cases. The surgical approach were total gastrectomy (98 cases) and subtotal gastrectomy (180 cases). Potential prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe lymph node metastasis of each station was high in gastric cancer patients staged N3 and 34.1% patients had the para-aortic lymph nodal metastasis. Borrmann type (HR = 1.350, 95%CI: 1.018-1.790, P = 0.037), curability (HR = 1.580, 95%CI: 1.076-2.322, P = 0.020), depth of invasion (HR = 1.697, 95%CI: 1.005-2.864, P = 0.048), metastatic lymph node ratio (HR = 1.631, 95%CI: 1.261-2.111, P = 0.000), extranodal metastasis (HR = 1.336, 95%CI: 1.027-1.738, P = 0.031), postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 1.312, 95%CI: 1.015-1.696, P = 0.038), extent of lymphadenectomy (HR = 1.488 and 2.114, P = 0.054 and 0.000) and number of retrieved lymph node (HR = 1.503 and 2.112, P = 0.025 and 0.000) were found to be factors correlated to overall survival. In multivariate analysis, only Borrmann type (HR = 1.399, 95%CI: 1.050-1.863, P = 0.022), metastatic lymph node ratio (HR = 1.353, 95%CI: 1.016-1.802, P = 0.039) and extent of lymphadenectomy (HR = 1.725, 95%CI: 1.111-2.678, P = 0.015) were independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer patients in N3 stage.

CONCLUSIONSPatients in N3 stage should at least have 30 lymph node examined. D2 lymph node dissection plus PAND may improve the overall survival for gastric cancer patients in N3 stage.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) with survival of gastric cancer after surgery.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1 000 gastric cancer patients, including 738 non-transfused (73.8%) and 262 transfused (26.2%) cases. A one to one match was created using propensity score analysis, except preoperative hemoglobin level and operative blood loss. The survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival model.

RESULTSThe 5-year survival rate of the 1 000 cases of gastric cancer patients was 39.9%. Before matching, there was a significant difference between transfused group (33.6%) and non-transfused group (49.1%, P<0.005). Univariate analysis showed that age, tumor size, hemoglobin level, albumin level, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymph node dissection, surgery mode, adjuvant chemotherapy, blood loss and blood transfusion during perioperative period were associated with prognosis in the gastric cancer patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymph node dissection, chemotherapy and perioperative blood transfusion were independent prognostic factors in gastric cancer (all P<0.05). After matching, the 5-year survival rate of the 262 non-transfused patients was 37.7%, while that of the 262 transfused patients was 33.6% (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPerioperative blood transfusion has no significant effect on the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Analysis of Variance ; Blood Transfusion ; mortality ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Perioperative Period ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate