The treatment of gastric cancer with combined surgical resection and chemotherapy

Abstract

A series of 156 patients with gastric cancer during a 15-year period were reviewed retrospectively to determine the effectiveness of combined surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. The patients were divided into a 9-year prechemotherapy period and a 6-year chemotherapy period. Review of the data revealed an increase in the incidence of distant disease. The utilization of surgery as the only mode of treatment declined. Combination surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy utilization increased. Comparison of survival for surgery vs. adjuvant chemotherapy, expressed as percentage of survivors for each year, revealed an increase at 1 and 2 years with no difference at 3 years for all stages. A similar comparison for patients with regional spread showed an increase at 1,2 and 3 years with no difference therafter. The 5-year survival was 5% for both groups. The data has suggested that surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy increases 1-,2-, and 3-year survival rates but does not affect the longterm results.