Chinese expert consensus on perioperative treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer (2021 version)

Abstract

In recent years, the treatment strategy of locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) has changed from surgery alone to multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment (MDT) based on surgery. Many evidences have shown that perioperative therapy can improve the survival of most patients with late-stage LAGC compared to surgery combined with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. However, there is still a lack of standards and guidelines for precise preoperative staging, indications of perioperative neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy, and regimen selection. Based on relevant literature and clinical practice, Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery combined with Gastric Cancer Association, China Anti-Cancer Association took the lead and organized multidisciplinary experts to discuss, and finally formulate this expert consensus. This consensus aims to improve surgeons' and physicians' cognition on the MDT of LAGC, especially for doctors in primary hospitals; to clarify the preoperative staging, the indication and regimen selection of perioperative neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy; so as to improve the diagnosis and treatment level of gastric cancer and the prognosis of LAGC in China. The level of evidence and recommendation of this consensus is determined by the criteria of Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE).