Adjuvant chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine in patients with gastric cancer after D2 nodal dissection.

AIM

To evaluate outcome and prognostic factors in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 2007 to 2011, 55 patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (64%) or capecitabine (36%). D2 node resection was performed in all patients. The pathological stage was as follows: 13% IB; 29% II; 24% IIIA; 9% IIIB and 25% stage IV.

RESULTS

The median follow up was 21 months. Five-years overall and disease-free survival were 44.5% and 48%, respectively. Eighteen patients experienced disease relapse after combined treatment; in five of these patients, relapse was both locoregional and systemic. The most common toxicity was grade 1-2 leukopenia, reported in 32% of cases. Six patients developed grade 3 toxicity. Nodal ratio ≥0.4 and N3 stage were significant prognostic factors for survival and relapse.

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant conformal radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy is a feasible and well-tolerated treatment for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.