title: [Role of radiotherapy in cancers of the stomach].
abstract: The rational bases for using radiotherapy in gastric cancer are strong since most of the patients will finally die from locoregional recurrence and/or distant metastases. The review of the randomized studies investigating that question failed to demonstrate a benefit from using radiotherapy. Inappropriate methodology could explain the lack of results: the number of patients in the series is too small, the treatment modalities are not standardized, the patients populations are inhomogeneous. Well conceived clinical trials are still required in order to answer that question.
authors.affiliation: Institut Jules-Bordet (Service de cancérologie digestive), Bruxelles, Belgique.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bleiberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jeziorsky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hendlisz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerard
mesh_terms: D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome