Patterns of failure and long-term results in high-risk resected gastric cancer treated with postoperative radiotherapy with or without intraoperative electron boost.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the possible role of adjuvant radiotherapy in the management of high-risk resected gastric carcinoma.


METHODS
From 1982 to 1993, 62 patients surgically resected of a primary gastric cancer with adverse pathological features (serosal and/or regional lymph node involvement) were treated with postoperative radiotherapy with (Group I) or without (Group II) intraoperative electron boost to the surgical bed and coeliac axis (IORT).


RESULTS
After a median follow-up of 75.6 months (range 4-120+) for IORT patients and 91.2 months (range 6-149+) for non-IORT patients, overall relapse rates for Group I and Group II patients were 44.5% and 48.6% and local-regional relapse rates were 11.1% and 20%, respectively. Actuarial survival rates projected at the maximum follow-up were 41% and 38% in Groups I and II, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This retrospective analysis suggests a beneficial effect of adjuvant external radiotherapy in promoting local-regional control in high-risk resected gastric cancer.
Martínez-Monge
R
R
Department of Oncology, Clinica Universitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Calvo
F A
FA
Azinovic
I
I
Aristu
J J
JJ
Hernández
J L
JL
Pardo
F
F
Fernández
P
P
García-Foncillas
J
J
Alvarez-Cienfuegos
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004583:Electrons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D017211:Treatment Failure