Patterns of Initial Recurrence in Gastric Adenocarcinoma in the Era of Preoperative Therapy.
BACKGROUND
We sought to determine the sites of recurrence and identify predicting factors for recurrence and survival in patients who underwent gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma at an institution where preoperative therapy is commonly used for advanced gastric cancer.


METHODS
We collected clinicopathologic data and sites of recurrence from a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent potentially curative resection of gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma at our institution in 1995-2014, and we assessed associations between these characteristics and recurrence patterns and survival.


RESULTS
We identified 488 patients who underwent R0 resection of localized gastric cancer. The median age was 63 years (interquartile range 53-71 years), and 60% were male. The most common T and N categories, per endoscopic ultrasonography, were T3 (58%) and N0 (61%). Preoperative treatment was used in 61% of patients. A total of 125 (26%) patients experienced recurrence during follow-up. Recurrences were locoregional in 19 patients (15%), peritoneal in 61 (49%), and nonperitoneal distant in 67 (54%). The peritoneum also was the most common organ of recurrence (49%), followed by the liver (21%). The median time from primary resection to recurrence was 2.7 years for locoregional, 1.3 years for peritoneal, and 0.6 years for nonperitoneal distant recurrence (p = 0.01). Median overall survival was markedly shorter after peritoneal and nonperitoneal distant recurrences than after locoregional recurrences.


CONCLUSIONS
The peritoneum was a common site of recurrence after curative resection of gastric cancer and was associated with poor survival. Prophylactic treatment targeting the peritoneal cavity might improve survival of advanced gastric cancer.
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Naruhiko
N
Ikoma
Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Hsiang-Chun
HC
Chen
Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Xuemei
X
Wang
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Mariela
M
Blum
Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Jeannelyn S
JS
Estrella
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Keith
K
Fournier
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Paul
P
Mansfield
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Jaffer
J
Ajani
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. bbadgwell@mdanderson.org.
Brian D
BD
Badgwell
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019160:Endosonography; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate