Current status of clinical research for laparoscopic gastrectomy of gastric cancer in China

Abstract

Gastric cancer is ranked the third cause of cancer deaths in China, and gastric cancer patients from China accounts for 42% of new gastric cancer cases worldwide. Yet, more than 80% of diagnosed gastric cancer patients were in the advanced stage partially because of a lack of national screening strategy in China. Laparoscopic gastrectomy of gastric cancer has been becoming popular in the past decades, as with Japan and Korea. Since the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic gastrectomy have not been evaluated by evidence-based medicine, laparo-scopic gastrectomy in the treatment of gastric cancer in the advanced stage remains controversial, and scientific and regorous randomized controlled trial is known as the best way providing conclusive evidence. In this context, China has more responsibility for contribution to gastric cancer research. To fill this gap, the Chinese Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study (CLASS)group was established to offer more high-quality Chinese data in the evidense-based medicine with the great help of international academic societies like Korean Gastric Cancer Association, Japanese Gastric Cancer Association, Laparoscopic and Endoscopy Group of Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association and Gastric Cancer Association of Chinese Anti-Cancer Association. In this review, the current status of clinical research for laparoscopic surgery of gastric cancer in China was summarized. Key words: Gastric neoplasms; Radical gastrecto-my; Laparoscopy; Clinical research