title: Evaluation of important prognostic clinical and pathological factors in gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastric cancer is the fourth cancer in incidence worldwide, with a high disease-related death rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of clinical and pathological factors for the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed data from 304 consecutive patients. Clinical and pathological factors and the surgical resection status were analysed by univariate analyses, followed by investigation of important factors using a proportional hazard regression analysis with backward elimination in order to identify important independent prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analysis revealed that age, pT, pN, M, UICC stage, grading, and resection status were significantly associated with survival. Multivariate analysis identified age, pT, pN, M, and resection status as independent prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides age and pathological parameters, radical R0 resection plays an essential role in the management of gastric cancer and should be aimed at, even if extended resection may be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstrasse 9, 89075 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cammerer
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Formentini
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karletshofer
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Henne-Bruns
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kornmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery