Peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer is the main cause of death in gastric cancer patients. Peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer is difficult to diagnose in its early stage due to lack of obvious clinical signs and symptoms, and poor treatment outcomes and prognosis are often associated with late stage peritoneal metastasis. Therefore, it is crucial to utilize effective early diagnostic tools and to improve the long-term outcomes and the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Recently, systemic chemotherapy and intraperitoneal chemotherapy are the first line therapy, and cytoreductive operation plus abdominal cavity thermochemotherapy may be the best method in the treatment of peritoneal metastasis. However, conversion therapy has been gradually incorporated into the treatment of peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer because of the better efficacy and the higher survival.
Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Protocols ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical significance of No.12 lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer with D2 lymphadenectomy.

METHODSClinicopathologic data and No.12 lymph node dissection of 256 advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing radical operation in our department between January 2005 and December 2010 were retrospectively summarized and the influence factors of metastasis in No.12 lymph nodes were analyzed.

RESULTSOf 256 patients, 179 were male and 77 were female with the average age of 59.2 years. Tumor located in the upper of stomach in 24 cases, middle of stomach in 41 cases, lower of stomach in 174 cases, multi-focus or diffuse distribution of stomach in 17 cases. Tumor diameter was <3 cm in 39 cases, 3 to 5 cm in 100 cases, >5 cm in 117 cases. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level increased in 61 cases, serum carbohydrate antigens (CA)72-4 increased in 56 cases and CA19-9 increased in 61 cases. The number of No.12 lymph nodes resected from all the patients was 1 152, and the average number was 4.5±1.9. The metastasis rate of No.12 lymph nodes was 9.4%(24/256) after hematoxylin eosin staining (positive group). All the patients received effective follow-up to December 2015, and the average follow-up time was 101.2 months. The median survival time of positive No.12 group (24 cases) was 29.8 months and of negative No.12 group (232 cases) was 78.2 months, whose difference was statistically significant (χ=21.715, P=0.000). Univariate analysis found that No.12 lymph node metastasis was not associated with age, gender, tumor differentiation (all P>0.05), but was associated with tumor location, tumor diameter, invasive depth (all P<0.05), and was closely associated with Borrmann type, outside metastatic lymph nodes of No.12 and high levels of serum CEA, CA72-4 and CA19-9 (all P=0.000). Multivariate regression analysis found that tumor location (RR=2.452, 95%CI:1.537 to 3.267, P=0.000), Borrmann type (RR=1.864, 95%CI:1.121 to 3.099, P=0.016) and number of outside metastatic lymph nodes of No.12 (RR=2.979, 95%CI: 2.463 to 3.603, P=0.000) were the independent risk factors of the No.12 metastasis (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMetastasis in No.12 lymph nodes indicates poorer prognosis. The No.12 lymph nodes of advanced gastric cancer patients with curative resection, especially those with the tumor located in the lower part, Borrmann type IIII(, outside metastatic lymph nodes of No.12, should be regularly cleaned.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate ; blood ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Grading ; statistics & numerical data ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; statistics & numerical data ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; mortality ; pathology ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo analyze relationships between the tumor deposits (TD) and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer and investigate the value of TD in staging and prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

METHODSRetrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the clinicopathologic data of 388 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical procedures in Chinese PLA General Hospital between November 2011 and December 2012. Relationships between TD and clinicopathologic features were analyzed by χor Fisher exact tests. Survival curves were also generated by Kaplan-Meier method. The univariate and multivariate analysis were performed with Log-rank and COX proportional hazard model to examine the association between prognosis and TD.

RESULTSTD were observed in 67 (17.3%) of 388 gastric cancer patients, including 48 male patients (48/289, 16.6%) and 19 female patients (19/99, 19.2%). There were 40 patients (40/198, 20.2%) whose age was above 64 years old. TNM staging of positive TD patients was as follows: for pathology, there were 5 patients (5/64, 7.8%) in stage II(b, 6 patients (6/58, 10.3%) in stage III(a, 14 patients (14/75, 18.7%) in stage III(b, 30 patients (30/135, 22.2%) in stage III(c, 12 patients (12/39, 30.8%) in stage IIII( and no one in stage I(b or II(a; for T-staging, there were 2 patients (2/18, 11.1%) in stage T2, 2 patients (2/27, 7.4%) in stage T3, 36 patients (36/259, 13.9%) in stage T4a and 27 patients (27/84, 32.1%) in stage T4b; for N-stage, there were 5 patients (5/72, 6.9%) in stage N0, 6 patients (6/72, 8.3%) in stage N1, 19 patients (19/82, 23.2%) in stage N2, 27 patients (27/100, 27.0%) in stage N3a and 10 patients(10/62, 16.1%) in stage N3b; for M-stage, there were 12 patients (12/40, 30.0%) in distal metastases; for vascular invasion, there were 29 patients (29/129, 22.5%). Among positive TD patients, the number of TD >3 was found in 38 of 67 cases(56.7%). TD was associated with pTNM-stage (χ=16.898, P=0.010), T-stage (χ=17.382, P=0.001), N-stage (χ=18.080, P=0.001), M-stage (χ=5.060, P=0.036) and vascular invasion(χ=3.675, P=0.039). The median survival time of positive TD patients was significantly shorter as compared to negative TD patients (22 months vs. 32 months, χ=23.391, P=0.012). Among positive TD patients, the median survival time of patients with TD number >3 was significantly shorter as compared to those with TD number <3 (17 months vs. 25 months, χ=5.157, P=0.023). Multivariate survival analysis showed that TD number >3 was the independent risk factor of prognosis (RR=2.350, 95%CI:1.345 to 4.106, P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONSTD state is closely associated with the staging of gastric cancer and TD number >3 indicates a poor prognosis.

Aged ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; classification ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors and prognosis of No.8p lymph node metastasis in cases with advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological and follow-up data of 790 cases with advanced gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy (including No.8p lymphadenectomy) from October 2003 to October 2013 in Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. Associations of No.8p lymph node metastasis with clinicopathological characteristics and metastasis in other regional lymph node were analyzed. Prognostic difference between positive No.8p group and negative No.8p group was examined.

RESULTSPositive No.8p lymph node was found in 93 cases (11.8%) among 790 cases with advanced gastric cancer. Univariate analysis showed that gender [male 9.8%(56/572) vs. female 17.0%(37/218), P=0.005], preoperative CEA level [<5 μg/L 28.0%(61/218) vs. ≥5 μg/L 5.6%(32/572), P=0.005], tumor size[diameter <5 cm 3.8%(13/346) vs. ≥5 cm 18.0%(80/445), P=0.000], tumor location [gastric fundus and cardiac 10.7% (26/244) vs. gastric body 13.5% (30/222) vs. gastric antrum 10.1% (31/308) vs. total gastric 37.5%(6/16), P=0.007], Borrmann staging [type II( 1.9%(4/211) vs. type III( 11.6% (54/464) vs. type IIII( 30.4%(35/115), P=0.000], tumor differentiation [high 0/8 vs. moderate 6.7%(25/372) vs. low 16.6%(68/410), P=0.000], T staging [T2 2.4%(4/170) vs. T3 13.1%(35/267) vs. T4 15.3%(54/353), P=0.000], N staging [N0 0 (0/227) vs. N1 2.2%(5/223) vs. N2 15.2%(26/171) vs. N3 36.7%(62/169), P=0.000] were closely associated with the No.8p lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis that revealed gender (OR=1.762, 95%CI: 1.020-3.043), tumor size (OR=1.107, 95%CI: 1.020-1.203), N staging (OR=4.093, 95%CI: 2.929-5.718), tumor differentiation (OR=1.782, 95%CI:1.042-3.049), and metastasis in No.8a(OR=5.370, 95%CI: 3.425-8.419), No.3(OR=1.127, 95%CI:1.053-1.206), No.6(OR=1.221,95%CI: 1.028-1.450), No.7(OR=2.149, 95%CI: 1.711-2.699), No,11p(OR=2.085, 95%CI: 1.453-2.994), No.14v(OR=2.604, 95%CI: 1.038-6.532) group lymph nodes were the independent risk factors of No.8p lymph node metastasis. One-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates in positive No.8p group were 85.7%, 47.5% and 22.6%, and those in negative No.8p group were 96.2%, 82.5% and 70.3% respectively, whose differences were significant (χ=109.767, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMetastasis in Np.8p lymph nodes is an important factor affecting the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer. In patients with female gender, tumor diameter ≥5 cm, preoperative late N staging, low tumor differentiation or metastasis in No.8a, No.3, No.6, No.7, No.11p, No.14v group lymph nodes, thorough clean rance of No.8p group lymph node should be considered.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Grading ; statistics & numerical data ; Neoplasm Staging ; statistics & numerical data ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients with primary gastric adenosquamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 5 562 patients with gastric neoplasm were admitted in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2001 to January 2011. Among them 42 patients were diagnosed as primary gastric adenosquamous cell carcinoma, accounting for 0.76% of all the patients. The clinicopathological and follow-up data of these 42 patients with primary gastric adenosquamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed, and Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the prognostic factors of gastric adenocarcinoma squamous cell carcinoma.

RESULTSAmong above 42 patients, 32 were male and 10 were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 3.2/1.0 and the average age was 63 years (range: 46 to 77 years). Five patients (11.9%) were confirmed as adenosquamous cell carcinoma by preoperative pathological examination, while other 37 patients were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma preoperatively. According to the 7th edition AJCC TNM classification system for gastric adenocarcinoma, 5 patients (11.9%) were in stage II(, 30 patients (71.4%) in stage III( and 7 patients (16.7%) in stage IIII(. The maximum tumor diameter was > 5 cm in 18 patients (42.9%). Borrmann type III(-IIII( was found in 29 patients (69.0%), and poorly differentiated (or undifferentiated) tumor was found in 32 patients (76.2%). Radical operations were performed in 31 patients (73.8%), the reasons of non radical operations included infiltration of pancreas in 3 patients, infiltration of radices mesocili transvers in 1 patient and classification of stage IIII( in 7 patients. Lymph node dissection was performed in 37 patients, 83.8% of them (31/37) was found with lymphatic metastases. Twenty-five patients received adjuvant chemotherapy except for 7 patients in stage IIII( and 10 patients who refused adjuvant chemotherapy. All the patients had an average survival time of 36.4 months and median survival time of 28.0 months, and the overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 82.2%, 42.3% and 18.2% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that tumor size (χ=4.039, P=0.044), Borrmann type (χ=18.728, P=0.000), tumor differentiation (χ=19.612, P=0.000), radical gastectomy (χ=41.452, P=0.000), lymph node metastasis (χ=9.689, P=0.002) and clinical stage (χ=26.277, P=0.000) were associated with postoperative survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor differentiation (HR=10.560, 95%CI:2.263-49.281, P=0.003), radical gastrectomy (HR=4.309, 95%CI:1.311-14.168, P=0.016) and clinical stage (HR=2.392, 95%CI:1.022-5.600, P=0.044) were independent prognosis factors.

CONCLUSIONSPrimary gastric adenosquamous cell carcinoma is rare with poor prognosis. Radical gastrectomy is recommended. Tumor differentiation, radical gastrectomy and clinical stage are important indicators to evaluate prognosis of primary gastric adenosquamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Grading ; statistics & numerical data ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; statistics & numerical data ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic factors of patients with lymph node-negative metastasis gastric cancer (pN0).

METHODSClinicopathological data of patients with pN0 gastric cancer who underwent radical operation at the Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University from May 1980 to August 2012 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

INCLUSION CRITERIA(1) Patients were diagnosed as gastric adenocarcinoma; (2) Postoperative pathology confirmed T1a to 4bN0M0 gastric cancer; (3) Total number of harvested lymph node was more than 15. The patients, who died within 1 month after the operation, died of other diseases, had remnant gastric cancer, or had incomplete follow-up data, were excluded. Univariate analysis was used to analyze the clinical factors that may influence the prognosis of patients with stage pN0 gastric cancer, then, those significant variables were entered into the Cox's proportional hazards regression model for multivariate analysis to obtain the independent prognostic factors for patients with pN0 gastric cancer finally. Furthermore, the prognosis of patients with pN0 advanced gastric cancer (invasive depth ≥ T2) were analyzed using the same method.

RESULTSA total of 610 patients with pN0 gastric cancer were enrolled in the study, including 441 males and 169 females with age ranging from 19 to 83 (mean 56.4±11.0) years, D1 lymph node dissection in 45 cases, D2 lymph node dissection in 543 cases, D3 lymph node dissection in 22 cases, and 384 cases of advanced gastric cancer. The overall followed-up was 1 to 372 (median 32) months. Ninety cases (14.8%) were dead during the follow-up. The median survival was 277.7(95%CI: 257.6 to 297.8) months, and the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 96.5%, 87%, 83.2%. Univariate analysis showed that tumor diameter, depth of invasion, gross type, lymph node dissection and lymph vessel cancer embolus were related to the prognosis (all P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate of patients with tumor diameter >4 cm was significantly lower than those with tumor diameter ≤4 cm (75.6% vs. 87.8%, P=0.000). The 5-year survival rates of T1a, T1b, T2, T3 and T4 were 98.4%, 92.8%, 84.2%, 61.0% and 31.4% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.000). In gross type, 5-year survival rate of early gastric cancer was 96.0%, and of Borrmann I( to IIII( type gastric cancer was 100%, 83.4%, 73.7% and 68.9% respectively, whose difference was statistically significant(P=0.000). The 5-year survival rates in patients undergoing lymph node dissection D1, D2 and D3 were 100%, 83.3% and 58.7%, and the difference was significant (P=0.005). The 5-year survival rate of patients with positive lymphatic cancer embolus was lower than those with negative ones (69.4% vs. 86.9%, P=0.000). Multivariate analysis showed that the gross type [Borrmann II(/early gastric cancer: HR(95% CI)=15.129(3.284 to 69.699), Borrmann III(/early gastric cancer: HR(95% CI)=14.613 (3.292 to 64.875), Borrmann IIII(/early gastric cancer: HR (95% CI)=15.430 (2.778 to 85.718),Borrmann IIIII(/early gastric cancer: HR(95%CI)=12.604 (1.055 to 150.642), P=0.025] and the positive lymphatic cancer embolus [HR(95% CI)=3.241 (2.056 to 5.108), P=0.000] were the independent prognostic factors of patients with pN0 gastric cancer. For pN0 patients with advanced gastric cancer, multivariate analysis showed that the depth of invasion [stage T3/stage T2: HR(95%CI)=1.520 (0.888 to 2.601), stage T4/stage T2: HR(95%CI)=2.235(1.227 to 4.070); P=0.031] and the positive lymphatic cancer embolus [HR(95%CI)=3.065 (1.930 to 4.868); P=0.000] were the independent risk factors influencing the prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSPositive lymphatic cancer embolus and worse gross pattern indicate poorer prognosis of patients with pN0 gastric cancer, which may be used as effective markers in evaluating the prognosis. As for pN0 advanced gastric cancer, invasion depth and positive lymphatic cancer embolus can play a more important role in the prediction.

Adenocarcinoma ; classification ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; physiopathology ; Lymphatic Vessels ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; statistics & numerical data ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; classification ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Survival Rate

The aim of the present study was to accurately evaluate the association of Sox2 expression with the survival of patients with digestive tract cancers. Relevant literatures were identified by comprehensively searching databases including the Pubmed, Embase, CBMdisc, and Wanfang (up to October 2014). A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the association between Sox2 expression and overall survival or clinicopathological parameters of patients with digestive tract cancers (esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers). The results showed a significant association between high Sox2 expression and poor overall survival in patients with digestive tract carcinomas (HR=1.55, 95% CI=1.04-2.31), especially for patients with esophageal cancer (HR=2.04, 95%CI=1.30-3.22), colorectal cancer (HR=1.40, 95% CI=1.04-1.89), and digestive tract adenocarcinoma (HR=1.80, 95% CI=1.12-2.89), for Europeans (HR=1.98, 95% CI=1.44-2.71) or patients who did not receive neoadjuvant treatment (HR=1.73, 95% CI=1.10-2.72). Furthermore, Sox2 over-expression was highly correlated with vascular invasion (OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.25-2.77) and poor differentiation (OR=1.88, 95% CI=1.14-3.08), especially in esophageal and colorectal cancers. In conclusion, Sox2 expression may serve as a novel prognostic factor for patients with digestive tract cancers. Over-expression of Sox2 that is correlated with vascular invasion and poor differentiation suggests poor outcomes of patients with digestive tract cancers.
Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; methods ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasms, Vascular Tissue ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; mortality ; secondary ; Prognosis ; SOXB1 Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Survival Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies reported a subgroup of gastric cancer patients showing elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at the time of diagnosis. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of AFP producing gastric cancer (AFPPGC) by comparing with AFP non-producing gastric cancer (AFPNPGC). METHODS: A total of 909 patients were diagnosed with gastric cancer from January 2005 to March 2013 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital and their AFP levels were measured at the time of diagnosis. After excluding 138 patients with underlying liver diseases, 34 patients with elevated serum AFP level over 10 mg/mL were assigned to AFPPGC group and the remaining 737 patients with serum level of AFP below 10 ng/mL were assigned to AFPNPGC group. RESULTS: The median survival length was shorter in AFPPGC group than AFPNPGC group (18.3+/-25.5 months vs. 30.0+/-22.0 months, p=0.004). The incidence of liver metastasis (47.1% vs. 3.3%, p<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (91.2% vs. 31.6%, p<0.001) was significantly higher in AFPPGC group. The probability of encountering metachronous liver metastasis after the operation was higher in AFPPGC group (44.4% vs. 2.0%, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients in the AFPPGC group who received chemotherapy (p=0.037) or underwent operation (p=0.001) had a better survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: AFPPGC behaves more aggressively and shows a worse prognosis. Therefore, serum AFP level should be routinely checked in all patients diagnosed with gastric cancer.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Smoking ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/mortality/pathology ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; alpha-Fetoproteins/*metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies reported a subgroup of gastric cancer patients showing elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at the time of diagnosis. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of AFP producing gastric cancer (AFPPGC) by comparing with AFP non-producing gastric cancer (AFPNPGC). METHODS: A total of 909 patients were diagnosed with gastric cancer from January 2005 to March 2013 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital and their AFP levels were measured at the time of diagnosis. After excluding 138 patients with underlying liver diseases, 34 patients with elevated serum AFP level over 10 mg/mL were assigned to AFPPGC group and the remaining 737 patients with serum level of AFP below 10 ng/mL were assigned to AFPNPGC group. RESULTS: The median survival length was shorter in AFPPGC group than AFPNPGC group (18.3+/-25.5 months vs. 30.0+/-22.0 months, p=0.004). The incidence of liver metastasis (47.1% vs. 3.3%, p<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (91.2% vs. 31.6%, p<0.001) was significantly higher in AFPPGC group. The probability of encountering metachronous liver metastasis after the operation was higher in AFPPGC group (44.4% vs. 2.0%, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients in the AFPPGC group who received chemotherapy (p=0.037) or underwent operation (p=0.001) had a better survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: AFPPGC behaves more aggressively and shows a worse prognosis. Therefore, serum AFP level should be routinely checked in all patients diagnosed with gastric cancer.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Smoking ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/mortality/pathology ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; alpha-Fetoproteins/*metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LLC) is a rare cancer that presents with a unique histologic pattern that is characterized by poorly differentiated malignant cells infiltrating the background stroma along with massive lymphocyte infiltration. Many studies have shown that gastric LLC is associated with better prognosis than other gastric malignancies. However, the reason for better prognosis has not been clarified and the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we attempted to determine the clinical characteristics of gastric LLC and identify its prognostic factors related to improved survival. METHODS: A total of 18 patients were diagnosed with gastric LLC after resection from 2005 to 2012 at Department of Gastroenterology in Chungnam National University Hospital. The data of these patients were compared with 36 age- and sex-matched patients with poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma who also underwent resection during the same study period. RESULTS: Postoperative recurrence or metastasis tended to occur less frequent in gastric LLC than in poorly-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma. Among prognostic factors, only the number of lymph node metastases showed significant difference, with gastric LLC being associated with a smaller number of lymph node metastases. Regarding the disease free and overall survival rate, both were higher for gastric LLC than for poorly-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma, albeit not statistically significant (p=0.089 and p=0.159, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma was associated with a higher number of lymph node metastases at diagnosis than gastric LCC. Other potential factors affecting prognosis were not significantly different between the two cancer types.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/mortality/pathology ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma/diagnosis/mortality/pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/mortality/pathology ; Survival Rate