EORTC-ROG expert opinion: radiotherapy volume and treatment guidelines for neoadjuvant radiation of adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction and the stomach.
OBJECTIVE
The Gastro-Intestinal Working Party of the EORTC Radiation Oncology Group (GIWP-ROG) developed guidelines for target volume definition in neoadjuvant radiation of adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and the stomach.


METHODS
Guidelines about the definition of the clinical target volume (CTV) are based on a systematic literature review of the location and frequency of local recurrences and lymph node involvement in adenocarcinomas of the GEJ and the stomach. Therefore, MEDLINE was searched up to August 2008. Guidelines concerning prescription, planning and treatment delivery are based on a consensus between the members of the GIWP-ROG.


RESULTS
In order to support a curative resection of GEJ and gastric cancer, an individualized preoperative treatment volume based on tumour location has to include the primary tumour and the draining regional lymph nodes area. Therefore we recommend to use the 2nd English Edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma of the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association which developed the concept of assigning tumours of the GEJ and the stomach to anatomically defined sub-sites corresponding respectively to a distinct lymphatic spread pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
The GIWP-ROG defined guidelines for preoperative irradiation of adenocarcinomas of the GEJ and the stomach to reduce variability in the framework of future clinical trials.
EORTC Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium. Oscar.Matzinger@gmail.com
Oscar
O
Matzinger
Erich
E
Gerber
Zvi
Z
Bernstein
Philippe
P
Maingon
Karin
K
Haustermans
Jean François
JF
Bosset
Akos
A
Gulyban
Philip
P
Poortmans
Laurence
L
Collette
Abraham
A
Kuten
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*