Clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in young patients

摘要

Background The clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in young patients are both limited and controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to define the clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in young patients after curative resection. Methods From May 2008 to December 2014, 198 young patients (age?≤?40?years) and 1096 middle-aged patients (55?≤?age?≤?64?years) were enrolled in this study. The clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in these patients were analyzed. Results Compared with middle-aged patients, the proportion of females, lower third tumors, tumor size less than 5?cm, poorly differentiated tumors and T1 tumors were significantly higher in young patients (all P ?0.05). The five-year overall survival rates were comparable between young patients and middle-aged patients (62.8 vs 54.7?%, P =?0.307). The tumor location, T status, N status and CA125 were independent predictors of prognosis in young patients. The overall survival of patients with tumors located in the upper or middle third was significantly lower than for those located in the lower third (60.8 vs 50.6?% vs 68.4?%, P =?0.016). The overall survival of CA125-positive patients was significantly lower than CA125-negative patients (49.0 vs 64.4?%, P =?0.001). Conclusion The clinicopathological features were significantly different between young and middle-aged patients. The prognosis of gastric cancer in young patients was equivalent to that of middle-aged patients. Tumor location, T status, N status and CA125 were independent risk factors for prognosis in young patients.