Surgical outcomes and survival of patients over 80 years old who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer.

PURPOSE

Among patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy, the proportion of patients aged ≥80 years has increased. This study aimed to evaluate surgical outcomes and survival of patients aged ≥80 years who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer and identify independent factors that affect postoperative survival.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 1,066 patients aged ≥65 years with gastric cancer who underwent curative resection between January 2014 and December 2018 at a single institution. They were divided into those aged ≥80 years (old-elderly group) and 65-79 years (young-elderly group). Their clinicopathological characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

Of the 1,066 patients, 136 (12.8%) were 80 years or older. Higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification and more advanced cancers were observed in the old-elderly group than in the young-elderly group. No significant difference in postoperative complications was found between the groups. At a median follow-up of 49.1 months, the 5-year overall survival rate after surgery for the old-elderly group was lower than that for the young-elderly group (75.6% 87.0%, P < 0.001). However, the 5-year disease-specific survival rate was comparable between the groups (90.1% 92.2%, P = 0.324). ASA physical status classification, pathologic stage, and surgical approach were independent predictors of overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Old-elderly patients aged ≥80 years had comparable postoperative outcomes and disease-specific survival to the young-elderly group, suggesting that curative gastrectomy can be considered a viable option for octogenarian patients with gastric cancer.