Purpose: This retrospective study evaluated the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer.
Methods: Between 2002 and 2005, we treated 14 patients with advanced gastric cancer (involvement of more than five nodes or tumor invasion into pancreas) and 25 patients with Stage III gastric cancer. The group of 14 patients with advanced gastric cancer received combination chemotherapy with S-1 and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). This regimen was repeated every 5 weeks for a total of 2-5 cycles. The 25 patients with Stage III gastric cancer was carried surgery alone (SA). All patients underwent extensive surgery, including gastrectomy, and D2 lymphadenectomy. The rate of response and overall survival in the two groups were compared.
Results: All patients of NAC group completed the planned regimens of chemotherapy and surgery. Patients of the NAC group had a response rate of 78.6% (95% confidence interval 57.1-100.0%). The most common adverse effect was leukocytopenia (42.9%). However, only four patients (28.6%) had upper Grade 2 leukocytopenia, and all recovered promptly. Postoperative complications were not significant differentiated between NAC and SA group of patients (7.2 vs. 4.0%). Patients in the NAC group had a significantly better survival than those in the SA group (P = 0.03). The median survival has not been reached after 26.9 months of median follow-up for patients in the NAC group. 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 92.3, 92.3, and 61.5%, respectively. NAC was identified as an independent prognostic factor in all patients (P = 0.018).
Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TS-1 + CDDP improves the survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.