Prognosis of Pregnancy-Associated Gastric Cancer: An Age-, Sex-, and Stage-Matched Case-Control Study.
OBJECTIVE
Pregnancy-associated gastric cancer is a rare condition. This case-control study was performed to identify the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of pregnancy-associated gastric cancer.


METHODS
All consecutive patients who presented to our tertiary referral hospital with pregnancy-associated gastric cancer from 1991 to 2012 were identified. Two age-, sex-, and stagematched controls for each case were also identified from the records. Clinicopathological, gynecological, and oncological outcomes were recorded. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor, and E-cadherin. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed for fibroblast growth factor receptor 2.


RESULTS
The median overall survival rates of the pregnancyassociated gastric cancer and control groups were 7.0 months and 15.0 months, respectively (p=0.189). Poor prognostic factors included advanced stage and tumor location in the corpus or the entire stomach but not pregnancy status or loss of E-cadherin. Pregnancy-associated gastric cancer was associated with a longer time from diagnosis to treatment (21 days vs 7 days, p=0.021). The two groups did not differ in the expression of the receptors or E-cadherin.


CONCLUSIONS
The dismal prognosis of pregnancy-associated gastric cancer may related to the tumor stage and location rather than to pregnancy itself.
Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Min Jeong
MJ
Song
Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Young Soo
YS
Park
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ho June
HJ
Song
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Se Jeong
SJ
Park
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ji Yong
JY
Ahn
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kee Don
KD
Choi
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Gin Hyug
GH
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hwoon-Yong
HY
Jung
Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jeong Hwan
JH
Yook
Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Byung Sik
BS
Kim
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D066246:ErbB Receptors; C496353:FGFR2 protein, human; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2
Ecadherins; Gastric neoplasms; Pregnancy; Prognosis