Is gastric carcinoma different between Japan and the United States? A comparison of patient survival among three institutions Journal Article


Authors: Noguchi, Y.; Yoshikawa, T.; Tsuburaya, A.; Motohashi, H.; Karpeh, M. S.; Brennan, M. F.
Article Title: Is gastric carcinoma different between Japan and the United States? A comparison of patient survival among three institutions
Abstract: BACKGROUND. Analyses of surgical results for gastric carcinoma often lead to the conclusion that gastric carcinoma occurring in Japan is different from that diagnosed in the U.S. METHODS. To elucidate factors that might explain the differences in surgical results between the two countries, the authors compared data from a cancer center and a university hospital in Japan and a specialist cancer hospital in the U.S (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center [MSKCC]). RESULTS. The mean age and body mass index were significantly greater in patients in the U.S. The N category appeared to be determined less accurately at MSKCC compared with the Japanese centers. The occurrence of early gastric carcinoma was not confined to Japanese patients because 20% of U.S. patients who underwent surgery were determined to have early stage disease. However, mucosal (in situ) carcinoma was detected rarely, and the proportion of advanced stage disease was greater in the U.S. Lesions in the upper gastric body, including the gastroesophageal junction, occurred in > 50% of cases at MSKCC but in only 20% of cases at the Japanese centers (P < 0.001). D2 lymph node dissection was possible with low morbidity and minimum mortality (31% and 3%, respectively, at MSKCC), The 5-year survival rates, stratified by tumor location and T category, revealed more similar results between Japan and the U.S. than had been reported previously. The marked difference between Japanese and American institutions only was observed for T1 and T2 tumors occurring in the lower gastric body and for T3 tumors occurring in the middle and upper third of the stomach. CONCLUSIONS. Based on the findings of the current study, it would appear that the more favorable outcome noted for gastric carcinoma patients in Japan primarily is explained by the differences in tumor location, a greater frequency of early stage disease, and more accurate staging compared with gastric carcinoma patients in the U.S. Results of gastric carcinoma treatment comparable to those obtained in Japan can be obtained in Western centers. (C) 2000 American Cancer Society.
Keywords: adult; cancer survival; human tissue; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; survival analysis; major clinical study; united states; cancer staging; lymph node metastasis; cancer diagnosis; lymph node dissection; lymph nodes; lymphatic metastasis; neoplasm staging; diagnostic accuracy; tumor localization; age; body mass; body mass index; outcome; surgical mortality; stage migration; stomach carcinoma; japan; stomach neoplasms; digestive system surgical procedures; topography; gastric carcinoma; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Cancer
Volume: 89
Issue: 11
ISSN: 0008-543X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2000-12-01
Start Page: 2237
End Page: 2246
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(20001201)89:11<2237::aid-cncr12>3.0.co;2-9
PUBMED: 11147594
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 18 November 2015 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Murray F Brennan
    1059 Brennan
  2. Martin S Karpeh
    98 Karpeh