This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS
Clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in young European adults. BJS 2007; 94: 737-742.
Published: 1st March 2007
Authors: R. Santoro, F. Carboni, P. Lepiane, G. M. Ettorre, E. Santoro
Background
The aims of this study were to define the clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in young European adults.
Method
Between 1990 and 2004, 603 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in a prospective database. The findings for 51 (8·5 per cent) patients aged 45 years or less were compared with those of 457 aged between 46 and 75 years.
Results
In the younger group there were significantly more women (57 versus 36·3 per cent; P = 0·004), Laurén diffuse‐type carcinomas (73 versus 42·7 per cent; P < 0·001), N2–3 lymph node metastases (59 versus 38·9 per cent; P = 0·005), stage IV disease (49 versus 35·7 per cent; P = 0·085) and resections that were non‐curative (36 versus 18·5 per cent; P = 0·007) than in the older patients. Actuarial survival rates in younger patients at 5 and 10 years after resection were 40 and 32 per cent respectively, similar to those in older patients (P = 0·540). Unfavourable prognostic factors associated with poor 5‐year survival were the degree of gastric wall invasion (T3–4 versus T1–2; P < 0·001), lymph node invasion (positive versus negative; P < 0·001), disease stage (III–IV versus I–II; P < 0·001) and curability of resection (non‐curative versus curative; P < 0·001).
Conclusion
Gastric cancer in young adults tends to be more advanced; however, when matched for stage, the prognosis does not differ from that of older patients. Copyright © 2007 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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