title: Gastric cancer.
abstract: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related deaths. The incidence, diagnostic studies, and therapeutic options have undergone important changes in the last decades, but the prognosis for gastric cancer patients remains poor, especially in more advanced stages. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment of this disease, even if it is associated with a high rate of locoregional and distant recurrence. There is ongoing debate regarding the role of adjuvant treatment In advanced disease, palliation of symptoms, rather than cure, is the primary goal of patient management. Several combination therapies have been developed and have been examined in phase III trials; however, in most cases, they have failed to demonstrate a survival advantage over the reference arm. This review summarizes the most important recommendations for the management of patients with gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedale San Salvatore, Pesaro, Italy. catalano_v@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Labianca
authors.forename: Giordano D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Beretta
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Braud
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Cutsem
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome