title: Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to improve the rate of complete (R0) resection and downstaging in patients with localized gastric cancer. There are few reports, however, regarding its impact on postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aims of this study were to analyse complication and mortality rates after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using a modified regimen of folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) for locally advanced gastric cancer (AGC), compared with rates in patients who underwent surgery without neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from patients with AGC enrolled in a phase II trial of four cycles of neoadjuvant mFOLFOX6 followed by surgery, between January 2005 and June 2008 at two of three institutions, and compared with those from a cohort of patients with AGC who underwent surgery alone at one of the institutions in 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 51 patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, there were no deaths and a morbidity rate of 24 per cent after surgery. Comparison of 48 patients in one institution who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 92 patients who had surgery alone in the same institution showed no increase in postoperative morbidity (23 versus 29 per cent; P = 0·417). Combined resection was the only risk factor for postoperative morbidity after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with mFOLFOX is a safe treatment for patients with localized AGC, and does not increase postoperative morbidity or mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Y G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S-A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Y-J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: H-H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H-K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil