Background: The aim of this study is to analyze the outcome of surgery with curative intent in good responder to induction chemotherapy for gastric cancer with distant metastases (M1 gastric cancer).
Materials and methods: We reviewed M1 gastric cancer patients in whom radiologic evaluation suggests disappearance of metastatic lesion after chemotherapy and received operation from January 2000 to December 2009. Clinicopathologic variables and oncologic outcomes were evaluated.
Results: Of the 34 patients who underwent surgery with curative intent after chemotherapy, overall R0 resection rate was 76.5% (26/34). R0 resection rate was 88.0% (22/25) in initial one metastatic site and 44.4% (4/9) in two metastatic sites (P = 0.017). Postoperative morbidity and mortality rate were 14.7% and 0%. Recurrence rate was 61.5% (16/26) after R0 resection. Median survival was 22.9 and 7.8 months according to R0 versus non-R0 resection (P = 0.033). After R0 resection, 3-year overall survival was 51.7% in ypN0-2 stage group.
Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that in patients with M1 gastric cancer which confined to one site who respond well to induction chemotherapy, a higher rate of R0 resection and longer survival can be expected. A multicenter cohort study is needed to explore this concept further.
Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.