Potentially curable cancer of the stomach.
Although reported cure rates following resection for gastric adenocarcinoma range from 9--22%, the Japanese experience with this disease indicates that the potential for cure is closer to 50%. Earlier diagnosis and a higher index of suspicion in patients in the fifth decade of life and older who present with new epigastric complaints should permit almost a doubling of current cure rates. Improved and extended surgical resections (omitting splenectomy in specific instances) could increase five-year survival by another 10%. Superimposed upon this is the promising potential of adjuvant chemotherapy. Further controlled trials will be needed to establish indications, optimal agents, and routes of administration.
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D014586:USSR; D014481:United States