Postoperative Recurrence in Gastric Cancer: Analysis of 59 Cases

摘要

Background/Aims: Gastric cancer (GC) is the leading cause of death in China. Although surgery based comprehensive treatment is the best approach to improve survival, postoperative recurrence is a major problem. This study was aimed to find out the relationship of cancer recurrence with major clinico-pathological factors, with special attention focused on time of recurrence. Methodology: Data of 59 recurrences after surgery among 286 GC patients were systemically collected and analyzed. Time of recurrence, the relationship between clinical stages and time of recurrence, and between number of adjuvant chemotherapy cycles and time of recurrence were evaluated.Results: 76.3% (45/59) recurrence happened within 1 year after surgery. Median time to recurrence was 7 months. Most recurrences were loco-regional recurrence (57.6%). The differences in time of recurrence among stage I, stage II, stage III and stage IV were statistically not significant (p>0.05, Kruskal-Wallis Test). There were significant differences among different adjuvant chemotherapy cycles for time to recurrence (p=0.014, Kruskal-Wallis Test).Conclusion: Close monitoring and active follow-up of patients with GC should be conducted over the first 2 years after operation. Adjuvant.chemo-therapy could prolong recurrence-free survival.