Changing national trends and survival in stage IV gastric cancer.

Abstract

81 Background: With more effective systemic chemotherapy, the role for palliative gastrectomy in patients with Stage IV gastric cancer has been questioned. Methods: Using the National Cancer Data Base we identified 29,655 patients with Stage IV gastric cancer over a 14 year period (1994-2008). Patient demographics, tumor related features, and treatments were analyzed. Overall survival rates were examined using log-rank test power analysis. Results: There was a decrease in surgical resection from 31.2% in 2000 to 22% in 2008 (p<0.0001), a decrease in radiation from 20% in 2000 to 18.5% in 2008 (p= 0.0009), and an increase in systemic therapy from 45.5% in 2000 to 55.1% in 2008 (p<0.001). There were no differences in gender, age, or histology, but there was a decreasing trend of Caucasians diagnosed (p<0.0001). Survival rates decreased significantly over time p<0.05 (see table below). Conclusions: Over the past 14 years there has been an increase in the use of systemic chemotherapy and a reduction in palliative gastrectomy for stage IV gastric cancer. The negative impact on survival suggests that treatment pathways be re-evaluated. [Table: see text]