OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of proximal gastrectomy (PG) and total gastrectomy (TG) for the treatment of cancer of cardia and fundus. METHODS: Publications on comparision between PG and TG in the treatment of cancer of cardia and fundus were collected, the data from the publications were matched with the PG group and the TG group respectively according to its corresponding surgical resection, and the data on postoperative complications, motality and 5-year survival rate were meta-analyzed by fixed effect model and random effect model. RESULTS: Thirteen reseaches on 2 219 patients were included in this study, 2 of which were randomly controlled studies. There were no significant differences in the postoperative complications (OR=1.00, 95%CI: 0.44-2.28,P>0.05) and mortality (OR=1.25, 95%CI: 0.62-2.48,P>0.05) between the PG group and the TG group, while there was significant difference in the 5-year survival rate (HR=0.87, 95%CI: 0.76-0.99,P=0.04). The 5-year survival rate in the TG group was higher than that in the PG group. CONCLUSION Total gastrectomy for the treatment of cancer of cardia and fundus has better long-term therapetic effect.
Cardia ; pathology ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Gastric Fundus ; pathology ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo discuss the present status and progress of clinical research on recurrence of gastric cancer after surgery, including patterns, clinicopathologic factors, prognosis, detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies.

DATA SOURCESThe data used in this review were mainly from PubMed articles published in English from 2000 to August 2011. The search terms were "gastric cancer" and "recurrence".

STUDY SELECTIONArticles were selected if they involved clinicopathologic factors, detection methods, and treatment strategies of recurrence of gastric cancer.

RESULTSPeritoneal recurrence is the most common pattern in recurrence of gastric cancer. The main risk factors for recurrence of gastric cancer are tumor stage, including depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis, and Borrmann classification. The prognosis of patients with recurrence is very poor, especially patients with peritoneal recurrence. Systemic chemotherapy is still the main treatment method for patients with recurrent cancer. If complete resection can be accomplished, some benefits may be obtained from surgery for recurrence. However, standard treatment for patients with recurrence has not yet been established.

CONCLUSIONSEarly detection and diagnosis of recurrence is quite crucial for treatment and prognosis. The optimal therapeutic strategy for recurrence should be based on a multidisciplinary assessment and the patient's individual state and should involve combined therapy.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Humans ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; diagnosis ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinicopathological features and the prognosis between patients with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) and with adenocarcinoma of gastric antrum (AGA), and to investigate the prognostic factors of AEG and AGA. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on clinicopathological data of 239 AEG patients (AEG group) and 313 AGA patients selected simultaneously (AGA group) undergoing operation at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital from January 2001 to December 2012. INCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) receiving radical surgery (R0 resection); (2) AEG or AGA confirmed by pathological examination of postoperative tissue specimens; (3) without preoperative neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy; (4) complete clinicopathological and follow-up data; (5) patients who died of non-tumor-related causes were excluded. Chi-square test and independent samples t-test were used to determine differences in clinicopathological factors between two groups. The overall survival (OS) of patients was compared by Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test. Multivariate prognosis analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: As compared to AGA group, AEG group had higher proportion of male [82.0%(196/239) vs. 65.2%(204/313),χ²=19.243,P<0.001], older age [(60±10) years vs. (55±12) years, t=4.895, P<0.001], larger tumor diameter [(5.6±2.4) cm vs. (5.0±3.3) cm, t=2.480,P=0.013], more T4 stage[64.8%(155/239) vs. 55.6%(174/313),Z=-3.998, P<0.001], and more advanced tumor stage [stage III:60.7%(145/239) vs. 55.6%(174/313),Z=-2.564,P=0.010]. There were no statistically significant differences in serum albumin or hemoglobin between two groups (all P>0.05). The 5-year OS rate was 33.5% and 56.9% in AEG group and AGA group respectively and the median OS was 60.0(3.0-60.0) months and 33.6(3.0-60.0) months respectively; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). In AEG group, univariate analysis showed that differences of hemoglobin level (5-year OS rate: 24.0% for <130 g/L, 39.9% for ≥130 g/L, P=0.006), tumor diameter (5-year OS rate: 41.9% for <5 cm,28.8% for ≥5 cm, P=0.014), N stage (5-year OS rate: 42.2% for N0, 40.9% for N1, 31.7% for N2, 15.8% for N3a, 9.0% for N3b, P<0.001) and TNM stage (5-year OS rate: 56.2% for stage I, 38.5% for stage II, 28.3% for stage III,P=0.017) were statistically significant (all P<0.05); multivariate analysis revealed that the worse N stage was an independent risk factor of prognosis survival for AEG patients(HR=1.404,95%CI:1.164-1.693, P<0.001), and serum hemoglobin level ≥130 g/L was an independent protective factor of prognosis survival for AEG patients (HR=0.689,95%CI:0.501-0.946,P=0.021). In AGA group, univariate analysis showed that differences of serum albumin (5-year OS rate: 49.1% for <40 g/L, 61.1% for ≥ 40 g/L, P=0.021), tumor diameter (5-year OS rate: 74.2% for <5 cm, 39.9% for ≥ 5 cm, P<0.001), T stage (5-year OS rate: 98.3% for T1,83.3% for T2,50.0% for T3,36.8% for T4, P<0.001), N stage (5-year OS rate: 89.0% for N0, 62.3% for N1, 50.0% for N2, 33.9% for N3a, 10.3% for N3b, P<0.001) and TNM stage (5-year OS rate: 97.3% for stage I, 75.8% for stage II, 32.8% for stage III, P<0.001) were statistically significant (all P<0.05); multivariate analysis revealed that the worse T stage (HR=1.516,95%CI:1.060-2.167,P=0.023) and the worse N stage (HR=1.453,95%CI:1.209-1.747,P<0.001) were independent risk factors for prognosis of AGA patients. CONCLUSIONS As compared to AGA, AEG presents have poorer prognosis,and is easier to present with later pathological stage and larger tumor diameter. N stage and hemoglobin level are independent factors associated with the OS of AEG patients. T stage and N stage are independent factors associated with the OS of AGA patients.
Adenocarcinoma ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Esophagogastric Junction ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Pyloric Antrum ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the usefulness of the following four comorbidity indices in gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery: Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Cumulative Illness rating scale (CIRS), Index of Co-existent Disease (ICED), and Kaplan-Feinstein Scale (KFS). METHODS: The study subjects were 614 adults who underwent surgery for gastric cancer at K hospital between 2005 and 2007. We examined the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of 4 comorbidity indices for 50 patients. Reliability was evaluated with Spearman rho coefficients for CCI and CIRS, while Kappa values were used for the ICED and KFS indices. Logistic regression was used to determine how these comorbidity indices affected unplanned readmission and death. Multiple regression was used for determining if the comorbidity indices affected length of stay and hospital costs. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability of CCI and CIRS was substantial (Spearman rho=0.746 and 0.775, respectively), while for ICED and KFS was moderate (Kappa=0.476 and 0.504, respectively). The inter-rater reliability of the CCI, CIRS, and ICED was moderate (Spearman rho=0.580 and 0.668, and Kappa=0.433, respectively), but for KFS was fair (Kappa=0.383). According to the results from logistic regression, unplanned readmissions and deaths were not significantly different between the comorbidity index scores. But, according to the results from multiple linear regression, the CIRS group showed a significantly increased length of hospital stay (p<0.01). Additionally, CCI showed a significant association with increased hospital costs (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the CCI index may be useful in the estimation of comorbidities associated with hospital costs, while the CIRS index may be useful where estimatation of comorbiditie associated with the length of hospital stay are concerned.
Adult ; Aged ; Comorbidity/trends ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Stomach/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*epidemiology/mortality/pathology/surgery

OBJECTIVETo discuss the reasonable surgery for gastric body cancer.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to December 2006, the clinicopathological data of 145 patients with a tumor in the middle third of the stomach underwent radical gastric resection were analyzed retrospectively. We conducted comparative analysis for the differences in clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis between total gastrectomy (TG) and subtotal gastrectomy (STG).

RESULTSThe 98 patients underwent TG, 47 received STG. There were significant differences in aspects of tumor size, depth of tumor, nodal status and TNM stage between the 2 groups. Patients with more advanced cancer were more likely to receive TG. The 5-year survival rate for TG was lower (25.5%) than STG (63.8%) (χ(2) = 11.707, P = 0.000). However, if tumor stages were stratified, there was no significant difference in the 5-year survival rate. TNM stage (P = 0.044) and histologic type (HR = 1.834, 95%CI: 1.073 - 3.135, P = 0.027) were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSThe overall survival rate of STG for gastric cancer in the middle third of the stomach is better than that of TG. If the radical resection margin can be obtained for gastric body carcinoma, STG is considered instead of TG.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate

Recently, metastasis to N3 lymph nodes group was regarded as distant metastasis by the new TNM staging system due to poor overall survival. However, the 5-year overall survival rate of patients with metastasis to N3 groups was 34.5% after curative surgery. Moreover, in patients with metastasis to lymph node subgroups of #12, #13, #14, the overall 5-year survival rate increased upto 47.2% after curative resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. This was similar to that of the patients with metastasis to N1 and N2 lymph nodes groups. But in these highly tumor burden states, no survival benefit was found with the addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy as we achieved in stage II and III. Therefore, we suggest that, at least, metastasis to #12, #13, #14 lymph nodes subgroups should not be categorized as a distant metastasis. And in these situations, active curative radical surgery with extended lymphadenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy are recommended.
Adult ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Human ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Age ; Stomach Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology/surgery ; Survival Rate

Weight loss and malnutrition are common in cancer patients. Although weight loss is predominantly due to loss of fat mass, the morbidity risk is given by the decrease in muscle mass. The assessment of nutritional status is essential for a diagnosis of nutritional compromise and required for the multidisciplinary approach. Subjective global assessment (SGA) is made by the patients nutritional symptoms and weight loss. The objective assessment, a significant weight loss (>10%) for 6 months is considered an indicator of nutritional deficiency. The mean body index, body fat mass and body protein mass are decreased as cancer stage increases. The biochemical data of albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, Zn, transferrin, total lymphocyte count are decreased in advanced cancer stage. Daily energy intake, cabohyderate and Vit B1 intake is decreased according to cancer stage. The patients are divided into three groups according to SGA. The three groups showed a significant difference in body weight, 1 month weight loss%, 6 month weight loss%, body mass index, mid arm circumference, albumin, energy intake, as well as carbohyderate intake protein and energy malnutrition. Nutritional assessment is of great importance because undernutrition has been shown to be associated with increase in stomach cancer associated morbidity and mortality. The authors concluded that nutritional assessment should be done in cancer patients preoperatively, and with adequate nutritional support, the morbidity and mortality would be decreased.
Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; *Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; *Nutritional Support ; Postoperative Complications ; Preoperative Care ; Stomach Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology/surgery ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical importance of palliative gastrectomy for late-staged gastric cancer.

METHODSFrom June 1994 to October 2001, 95 patients with late-staged gastric cancer underwent palliative operation. Clinicopathological and prognostic parameters between 64 patients with palliative gastrectomy (PG group) and 31 patients with unresectable operation (UO group) was compared retrospectively.

RESULTSThe age and gender ratios were not different between the two groups. The incidence of large volume (diameter > or = 8 cm), serosal invasion (T(4)) and late TNM stage (IV stage) were significantly higher in the UO group than that in the PG group. There was no difference in peritoneal dissemination, distant lymph node and hepatic metastasis, and tumor location between the two groups. The one- and two-year survival of the patients in the PG group was 48.1% and 23.1%, and significantly better than 13.5% and 0 in the UO group.

CONCLUSIONSPalliative gastrectomy, compared with unresectable operation, can improve the prognosis of the patients with late-staged gastric cancer even with peritoneal dissemination, distant lymph node and hepatic metastasis, and surrounding organ invasion.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Palliative Care ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo evaluate total gastrectomy for the treatment of cancer of the cardia and stomach fundus.

METHODSFive hundred and thirteen patients with cancer of the cardia and stomach fundus underwent radical resection. Of them, 326 were treated using total gastrectomy (group TG); and 187, using proximal gastrectomy (group PG). The 5-year and 10-year survival rates and the postoperative complication rate and mortality rate were followed up and compared in the two groups.

RESULTSThe 5-year and 10-year survival rates of group TG were 43.6% and 24.5%, of group PG were 33.9% and 14.1%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (chi(2) = 4.421, P < 0.05, chi(2) = 5.726, P < 0.05). The postoperative complication rate and mortality rate of group TG were 14.7% and 3.1%, of group PG were 10.2% and 2.1%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (chi(2) = 1.796, P > 0.05, chi(2) = 0.082, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTo improve long-term therapeutic effects, total gastrectomy should be recommended for stage III patients with cancer of the cardia and stomach fundus when tumor size is bigger than 3.0 cm or lymph node metastasis occur. The postoperative complication rate and mortality rate should not be increased and the esophagitis of gastroesophageal reflux should be avoided in the patients treated using total gastrectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardia ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Fundus ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical and prognostic value of peritoneal lavage cytology (PLC) in detecting free cancer cells (FCC).

METHODSPLC of 66 gastric cancer patients being operated was prospectively analyzed to assess the prognostic significance of positive cytological finding and its relation with serosal invasion, lymph node metastasis and stage classification.

RESULTSThe overall positive rate of cytology was 36.4% (24/66). These was a closely relation between positive cytology results and serosal invasion (P = 0.025), abdominal lymph node involvement (P < 0.005) and stage classification. Peritoneal recurrence in patients with positive cytological findings was significantly higher than that with negative results (P = 0.006 7).

CONCLUSIONMicrometastasis to the abdominal cavity, formed by free cancer cells exfoliated from the tumor, are significantly responsible for peritoneal dissemination. Serosal invasion and metastatic nodes have greater risk for positive cytology and implies poor prognosis. Peritoneal lavage cytology, if practiced in all gastric cancer patients being operated, can predict the operative effect and prognosis, increase the accuracy of clinical stage and provide information for further adjuvant therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Therapeutic Irrigation