Protective effects of female reproductive factors on gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe overall incidence of gastric cancer is higher in men than women worldwide. However, gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma (GSRC) is more frequently observed in younger female patients. AIMTo analyze clinicopathological differences between sexes in GSRC, because of the limited evidence regarding association between sex-specific differences and survival.METHODSWe reviewed medical records for 1431 patients who received treatment for GSRC at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 2011 and December 2018 and surveyed reproductive factors. Clinicopathological characteristics were compared between female and male patients. Cox multivariable model was used to compare the mortality risks of GSRC among men, menstrual women, and menopausal women. RESULTSOf 1431 patients, 935 patients were male and 496 were female (181 menstrual and 315 menopausal). The 5-year overall survival in male, menstrual female and menopausal female groups was 65.6%, 76.5% and 65%, respectively (P < 0.01). Menstruation was found to be a protective factor (hazard ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval: 0.42–0.82).CONCLUSIONThe mortality risk of GSRC in menstrual women was lower than that in men. This study identified the protective effects of female reproductive factors in GSRC.