Adjuvant postoperative radiochemotherapy for patients with gastric carcinoma: a single institution experience

Abstract

The suboptimal outcome after surgery alone for gastric cancer indicated the necessity of adjuvant treatment for potentially resectable carcinoma of the stomach. In 2001, postoperative adjuvant radiochemotherapy started to be implemented in the NCI, Cairo, Egypt. However, the fear of the acute complication hindered its use as a standard treatment with some staff didn’t follow the SWAG’s adjuvant protocol. The aim of this report is to verify this issue. In the period from 1999 to 2009, 320 out of 581 patients with gastric carcinoma, underdid potentially curative surgery. Adjuvant postoperative radiochemotherapy for stage ≥ IIA started since 2001. Radiation (45 Gy, 1.8 Gy/f) was targeted to the tumor bed, anastomosis site, duodenal stump, remnant stomach and regional lymph node together with 4–5 cycles chemotherapy (SWOG protocol). Survival analysis was performed and comparison between survival curves was done to analysis different prognostic factors. The patients’ age ranged from 17 to 86 years [mean (54 ± 12.5) years]. About 1/3 of the patients had a diffuse lesion. Adenocarcinoma was the most common pathology (60.4%). High grade pathology constituted 59.1% of the cases. About one fifth of the patients had metastatic disease at presentation. Only 351 (75%) of the patients had potentially curative gastrectomy. The median number of lymph node (LN) dissected was 12 (ranged from 0–45) with a median number of the positive LN of 3.5 (ranged from 0–40). Postoperative mortality was 12%. The median follow up period was 21.9 months (ranged from 3–129.4 months). For the 257 patients who had curative surgery, 164 (62.8%) patients were alive at the end of follow up. During follow up period, 30 patients had loco-regional relapse, and 26 patients had metastasis, and 39 patients had both pattern of failure. The overall survival (OS), loco-regional control (LRC), and metastasis free survival (MFS) rates, at median follow up period of 22 months, were 61.2%, 66.7% and 71%, respectively. At 3 and 5 years the corresponding values were: OS (42% and 28%), LRC (64% and 50.4%) and MFS (56.3% and 49%), respectively. Only stage and degree of nodal involvement had an adverse effect on all survival rates. Proximal lesion had poor OS rates. As regard LR control rate, mucinous cell type, and high grade had a bad effect. Although patients with less than D1 dissection had low OS and LRC rate, it didn’t reach significant level. There was a significant improved 5-year OS rate for concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRTh, 55%) versus no or single adjuvant modality (27%), P = 0.035. A subgroup analysis according to CTH regimen showed a trend for all survival rates with ECF compared to bolus 5FU/LV. However, none was statistically significant. In operable gastric carcinoma, postoperative concomitant radiochemotherapy with 5FU and LV is feasible with acceptable toxicity with a significant increase of locoregional control. A well designed phase III clinical trial — with ECF regimen and conformal radiotherapy — is worth to start to increase local control and decrease toxicity.