title: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radical resection with intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT): improved treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adenocarcinoma of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction results in substantial morbidity, locoregional recurrence, and death. Surgical procedures, even with adjuvant therapy, have not significantly improved survival. This study evaluated the toxicity, response rate, locoregional control, and survival of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer that was treated with neoadjuvant multimodality therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with stage IIIA or early stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma received neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Adriamycin, and Cisplatin and underwent gastrectomy or esophagogastrectomy with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT; 1000 cGY) to the gastric bed and postoperative radiation therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine of 15 patients (60%) with transmural extension and/or nodal metastases received IORT. There were 2 pathologically complete responses at the primary site. Eleven of 15 patients (73%) had tumor in perigastric lymph nodes; however, 9 of 15 patients (60%) had mucin-filled nodes without tumor cells. Neoadjuvant treatment did not increase operative morbidity rates. Ten of 15 patients (67%) remain free of disease (median, 27 months; range, 6-60 months). Five patients died 13 to 41 months (median, 17 months) after diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neoadjuvant multimodality therapy with neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Adriamycin, and Cisplatin, radical resection with IORT, and postoperative radiation therapy is safe, can downstage tumors, provides improved locoregional control, and appears to cause significant tumor regression that may result in long-term survival or cure.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weese
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Harbison
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Stiller
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil