Use of perioperative therapy in gastric cancer: A retrospective comparison of ECF and chemoradiation.

Abstract

112 Background: Gastric Cancer (GC) remains a major cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality in Western Countries with five year survival rates between 30%-40%. Preoperative therapy has been championed by groups extrapolating data from the Intergroup 0116 and the MAGIC trials, with a view to enhancing completion of therapy and improving survival in locally advanced tumors. Methods: Patients with preoperative treatment of GC were reviewed from our tumor registry. Stages were assigned by AJCC 7th edition. A comparison between the ECF regimen and non-ECF chemoradiation regimens was performed to view patterns of pathologic complete response (pCR), recurrence, toxicity and overall survival. Results: Forty-two patients were identified and stratified into two groups; Group 1 ECF treatment arm (n = 16) compared to group 2 non-ECF chemo-radiation arm (n = 26). No statistical difference was noted in age, ethnicity or stage stratification. All of Group 1 received their chemotherapy regimen after 2005. In contrast, 60% of Group 2 patients received their treatment pre-2005. Only 56% the ECF group completed their treatment course (19% received other postoperative therapy). Seventy percent of group 2 received adjuvant chemotherapy. A grade 2 or higher toxicity was noted in 16% of Group 1 compared to 60% in Group 2 (p = 0.035). Seven complications were noted in the group 1 compared to 10 in group 2 (p = NS). The differentiation of tumor between groups was not significant (p = 0.97). Length of stay was significant (Group 1:9 days, Group 2:12 days, p = 0.02). More nodes were retrieved from group 1 versus group 2 (20.2 versus 15.2, p = 0.03). Group 1 had 3 recurrences (19%) while Group 2 had 11 recurrences (42%, p = 0.94). In both groups 80% of recurrences were distant. Group 1 had a 19% pCR versus 23% in group 2 (p = 0.79). Two-year survival was 70% in both groups, with a median survival of 51 months for group 2. Median survival was not reached for group 1. Conclusions: No difference was noted in pCR, recurrences, or survival between these two regimens. If this can be confirmed in larger, prospective, randomized trials, use of radiation and its potential morbidity may be avoided. No significant financial relationships to disclose.