Is detection of asymptomatic recurrence after curative resection associated with improved survival in patients with gastric cancer? Journal Article


Authors: Bennett, J. J.; Gonen, M.; D'Angelica, M.; Jaques, D. P.; Brennan, M. F.; Coit, D. G.
Article Title: Is detection of asymptomatic recurrence after curative resection associated with improved survival in patients with gastric cancer?
Abstract: BACKGROUND: It is not clear if more intense surveillance is associated with improved survival after curative resection for cancer. In the context of a followup program after curative gastrectomy, recurrence and survival were investigated for patients presenting with either symptomatic or asymptomatic recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: A prospectively maintained gastric cancer database was used to identify all patients who underwent a curative (R0) gastrectomy from July 1985 to June 2000. Survival curves were generated for patients with either symptomatic or asymptomatic recurrence, and the prognostic variables associated with outcomes were identified. RESULTS: Of 1,172 patients who underwent a curative (R0) gastrectomy, 561 patients (48%) had documented recurrence and 382 patients had complete data about symptoms. Median time to recurrence was 10.8months for asymptomatic patients and 12.4months for symptomatic patients (p = NS). Median postrecurrence survival was 13.5months for asymptomatic patients and 4.8months for symptomatic patients (p < 0.01). Median disease-specific survival was 29.4months for asymptomatic patients and 21.6months for symptomatic patients (p < 0.05). Variables predictive of poor postrecurrence survival included symptomatic recurrence, advanced stage (III/IV), poor differentiation, short disease-free interval (<12months), and multiple sites of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Followup did not identify asymptomatic recurrence earlier than symptomatic recurrence. Patients with symptomatic recurrence have more aggressive disease with a shorter postrecurrence survival. The impact of detecting asymptomatic recurrence in the course of followup after curative gastrectomy could not be distinguished from the effects of four powerful biologic variables that also interact to govern outcomes. © 2005 by the American College of Surgeons.
Keywords: survival; adult; controlled study; middle aged; survival rate; major clinical study; follow up; prospective study; neoplasm recurrence, local; proportional hazards models; risk factors; data base; postoperative complication; recurrent disease; gastrectomy; stomach cancer; symptomatology; stomach neoplasms; stomach surgery
Journal Title: Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Volume: 201
Issue: 4
ISSN: 1072-7515
Publisher: Elsevier Science, Inc.  
Date Published: 2005-10-01
Start Page: 503
End Page: 510
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2005.05.033
PUBMED: 16183487
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 20" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: JACSE" - "Source: Scopus"
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Murray F Brennan
    1059 Brennan
  2. Mithat Gonen
    1028 Gonen
  3. David P Jaques
    66 Jaques
  4. Joseph J Bennett
    19 Bennett
  5. Daniel Coit
    542 Coit