Objective To summarize the current value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for potentially resectable gastric cancer. Methods The recent 5-year literatures searched through the PubMed with the key words: stomach neoplasm, gastric cancer/carcinoma, neoadjuvant therapy/chemotherapy and preoperative therapy/chemotherapy as well as the relevant reports presented in the ASCO Annual Meeting in 2007 and 2008 were analyzed. The present status of NAC for advanced gastric cancer was summarized, the necessity and feasibility were evaluated, and the patients features for selecting, the predictors for response, the mainly existing problems and development trend of NAC were analyzed. Results At present, there were 7 randomized control trails (RCT) published, and among them 3 were phase Ⅲ. It was safe, effective and feasible to most of trails in NAC for gastric cancer. However, it was still little to obtain survival benefit for NAC RCT, and short of randomized trial comparing strict preoperative chemotherapy to surgery alone or perioperative chemotherapy to surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy. It remained lots of problems such as how to select the appropriate patients, the effective induced regimes and the predicted factors, the evaluated indices for response. Conclusion NAC is a safe, feasible and efficient method to potentially resectable gastric cancer, but strict phase Ⅲ randomized trials are needed. In the future, substantial improvements of treatment outcome will likely depend on the novel drugs and molecular biological targeted therapies.
Objective To clarify the most important factors affecting the survival of patient with gastric carcinoma. Methods 428 cases of resected gastric carcinoma were studied by using univariate analyses and multivariate regression analyses. Results The most significant factors influencing survival of these patients were peritoneal dissemination, Borrmann classification, type of operation, hepatic metastasis, size of tumor, location, lymph node metastasis and age. Conclusion The factors influencing survival in patient with gastric carcinoma after resection can be correctly analyzed by cox’s proportional hazard model.
Objective To investigate the effect of mRNA expression of gelatinase A on the invasion and metastasis of human gastric carcinoma (HGC). MethodsThirtysix cases of HGC were examined by in situ hybridization technique. ResultsPositive expression rates of gelatinase A in the normal gastric tissue, peritumor tissue and HGC were 8.3%,35.7% and 83.3% respectively （P＜0.01）. The positive rates of gelatinase A in the group with serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis were 93.1% and 90.6%, much higher than those in the group with negative ones (42.9% and 25.0%).By in situ hybridization, gelatinase A mRNA was showed to be expressed in the extracellular matrix of tumor tissues,which surrounded the invasive margin of cancer tissues. The positive cells at these sites were mainly tumorinfiltrating macrophages. Conclusion There is good correlation between gelatinase A mRNA expression and the invasion, metastasis of HGC. So it can be used as a useful marker for invasion and metastasis of HGC.
Objective To investigate the expression of suppressor gene Runt-related transcription factor 3 (Runx3) in gastric carcinoma and its relationship with clinicopathologic parameters. Methods RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determine the mRNA expression and protein expression of Runx3 gene in primary tumor and corresponding normal tissues respectively in 52 patients with gastric carcinoma. The relationship between Runx3 expression and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. Results RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in 52 patients with gastric carcinoma showed down-regulation of Runx3 mRNA and Runx3 protein in 59.6% (31/52) and 48.1% （25/52） of the primary tumors tested, and in none of the normal tissues (P＜0.05) respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the expression level of Runx3 gene and the clinicopathologic parameters such as tumor size, differentiation, infiltrative depth, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P＜0.05， P＜0.01). Runx3 gene transcription was coincident with its protein expression (r=0.840, P＜0.01）. Conclusion The expression of Runx3 gene is down-regulated in gastric carcinoma, which suggests that Runx3 gene plays an important role in carcinogenesis and the progression of gastric carcinoma. It may be a new target of diagnosis and treatment of gastric carcinoma.
Objective To evaluate the status of lymph node metastasis and reasonable procedure in gastric cancer. Methods The incidence of metastases from gastric cancer to various regional lymph node stations was studied in 1 505 patients with gastric cancer. The patients underwent surgical resection from January 1995 to December 2004.Results Lymph node metastasis were observed in 928 of 1 505 cases (61.7%). Lymph node metastasis frequency was found in groups No.1 （32.9%），No.3 （28.7%）， No.2 （20.4%）， and No.7 （18.6%） at upper third stomach cancer；in groups No.3 （32.5%）， No.4 （24.7%）， No.7 （20.6%）， and No.1 （17.3%） at middle third stomach cancer； in groups No.6 （33.7%）， No.3 （31.3%）， No.4 （25.6%）， and No.7 （21.5%） at lower third stomach cancer. Conclusions Distribution of metastatic lymph node is clearly related to the location of the tumor. Anatomical extent of lymph node metastases in gastric cancer provid surgical guidance for surgeons.
Objective To explore the optimal technique for digestive tract reconstruction of proximal gastrectomy. Methods Fifty-nine patients who underwent proximal subtotal gastrectomy during June 2004 and January 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were divided into 2 groups according to the styles of reconstruction: one group with gastroesophagostomy (GE group) and the other with accommodation double tract digestive reconstruction of jejunal interposition (GIE group). The reconstruction of GIE group was to interposite a continuous 35 cm jejunum between the gastric stump and the oesophagus, which detail had been reported in our previous literature. The quality of life in 2 groups were evaluated and compared. Results No patient died and there was no anastomotic leakage, dumping syndrome and moderate or severe anemia occurred during perioperative period. There was no significant difference of the following indexes of nutrition between 2 groups 1 month and 6 months after operation: the value of weight, RBC, Hb, Alb, PNI and the indexes versus the preoperative ones (Pgt;0.05), for the exception of the indexes of RBC (P=0.006), Hb (P=0.001) in 1 month after operation versus the preoperative ones. The abdominal and the reflux esophagitis symptoms in GIE group were milder than those in GE group (Plt;0.001). The Visick scoring: most of the GIE group were gradeⅡ (74.2%), and grade Ⅲ (64.3%) in the GE group. There was no delay of the first time of adjuvant chemotherapy in GIE group (Pgt;0.05), and the surgical time was (0.35±0.13) h more than that of GE group (P=0.01). Conclusion The accommodation double tract digestive reconstruction of jejunal interposition for proximal subtotal gastrectomy may be safe and feasible by decreasing residual cancer cells and improving the quality of life of patients with proximal gastric carcinoma who underwent such surgical procedure.
Objective To investigate the effect and surgical skill of ultracision harmonic scalpel in curative gastrectomy for patients with gastric carcinoma. Methods From January 2007 to May 2008, the data of 152 patients who were treated by curative gastrectomy with ultracision harmonic scalpel were analyzed retrospectively. Results The mean operative time was (189.5±24.2) min. Compared with the conventional operation, the number of harvested lymph nodes (mean: 30.4±11.6) in patients treated with ultracision harmonic scalpel was increased. The application of ultracision harmonic scalpel could shorten the operation time, decrease the intraoperative blood loss and make the operation field clear. There were no postoperative complications, such as anastomotic leakage, lymphatic leakage and massive hemorrhage. And there was no death in this series. Conclusion The usage of ultracision harmonic scalpel which could improve the curative degree of lymphadenectomy is safe in curative gastrectomy for patients with gastric carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo investigate the rule of lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer (EGC) so as to provide a reasonable treatment. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 118 EGC patients who had been treated from January 2006 to December 2012,and a total of 8 potential factors associated with occurrence of EGC were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. ResultsThe univariate analysis showed that ulcer,tumor size,depth of invasion and lymphatic involvement were correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that presence of an ulcer (OR=2.872),tumor of 3.0 cm or larger than that (OR=2.351),tumor invasion into the submucous layer (OR=3.461) and invasion into the lymphatic tubes (OR=1.784) were found to be independent risk factors. ConclusionLymph node metastasis of EGC is correlated with many factors,so EGC treatment choice should be made reasonably based on strict screening to exclude various risk factors before taking surgery.
Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of proximal gastric cancer (PGC). MethodsThe clinical course and pathologic feature of 118 PGC patients were analyzed, and compared with those of 310 distal gastric cancer (DGC) patients. ResultsThe incidence of PGC was lower than DGC, the percentage of Ⅲ,Ⅳ stages and undifferentiated type in the PGC group were significantly higher than in DGC. For the surgical procedure, patients in the PGC had significantly higher percentages of total gastrectomy and other organ resection than in DGC. The percentage of patients with positive margin and lymph node metastasis in PGC was also significantly higher than in DGC. Esophageal invasion and lymph node metastasis were much more in PGC. The 5year survival of patients with PGC was significantly lower than that with DGC. No significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to the mortality rates and complications. Conclusion The relatively poor prognosis associated with PGC is mainly from advanced cases and esophageal invasion. Early detection and treatment is the most important strategy to improve the survival of patients with PGC.
Objective To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics of remnant gastric cancer （RGC）. Methods The clinical data of 114 patients with RGC treated in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Northern Sichuan MedicalCollege and The General Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army from March 2000 to May 2008 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. The clinicopathologic characteristics between the patients with primary benign diseases and those with malignant diseases were evaluated. Results A total of 114 cases，the age was （62.6±11.3） years，and the males versus females was 4.7∶1.0. Most patients （76.2%，64/84） were diagnosed at advanced stages （consistent with pT），and the proportion of pT1 stage cases was only 23.8% （20/84），tumor invasion pT4 was 60.7% （51/84）. It was more common that tumor directly invaded adjacent organs or structures （27.4%，23/84），lymph nodes positive （42.9%，36/84），and distant metastasis （27.2%，31/114）. The location of distant metastasis was usually confined in the abdominal cavity （93.5%，29/31），and the peritoneum disseminated was the most commonly structures （67.7%，21/31）. Histologically，the incidence of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma （76.7%，79/103） was the mostly histologic grade as well as the diffuse type （78.6%，81/103） was the mostly Laurén classification. Between the patients with primary benign diseases and those with initial malignant disease，the initial gastrectomy or the methods of reconstruction had significantly differences （both P=0.000）. The median time from initial resection to development of RGC was 30.0 years in the patients with original benign disease，contrary to 3.3 years in those with previous malignant disease （P=0.000）. Both primary diseases （benign or malignant） and the age at initial gastrectomy were the major influencing factors for the time of RGC developed （P＜0.05）. For pathohistology characters，except signet-ring cell carcinoma （P=0.045）， pT4b （P=0.049），pN stage （P=0.025），and Borrmann classification （P=0.005），there were no significant differences between the patients with previous benign diseases and those with original malignant disease，as well as the resectability rate，curative resection （R0） rate，and overall survival rate （P＞0.05）. Conclusions It is almost unaffected by originalbenign diseases or malignant diseases for clinicopathologic characteristics including the treatment option and prognostic factors.It is necessary and feasibility to form a pattern of endoscopic follow-up for RGC.