title: Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and effects of tumor regression in gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study is the evaluation of the effects induced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and its impact on survival on a series of locally advanced gastric carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Downstaging was assessed comparing pre-treatment clinical and laparoscopic staging with post-operative pathologic staging on 30 consecutive patients who completed a 3-year follow-up. Tumor downstaging and the grade of pathologic response were included in a statistical correlation between tumor regression induced by NACT and 3-year survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this series tumor downstaging was obtained in 13 out of 30 patients. After the completion of 3-year follow-up, overall survival was >37.5months with an overall survival rate of 56.7%; this figure reached up to 70.8% in those cases who benefited from a R0-resection (24/30 patients: R0-resection rate 80.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study the 3-year survival for locally advanced gastric cancer treated by NACT prior to "D2" surgical resection, compares favourably with historical series treated by surgery alone. Patients who obtained T-downstaging and subsequently benefited from a R0-resection had a definitely better chance of cure, according to a complete 3-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Hi-Tech Center for Education and Research in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University - Località Tappino, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Ugo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Persiani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rausei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vigorita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boccia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin