Impact of tumor infiltration pattern into the surrounding tissue on prognosis of the subserosal gastric cancer (pT2b)

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to clarify the impact of infiltration pattern on prognosis in patients with gastric carcinoma invading subserosa.MethodsClinicopathologic findings in patients with ssγ pattern (n = 144) were compared with those in patients with ssα/ssβ cancers (n = 222). Prognostic factors of pT2b patients were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.ResultsCompared with the ssα/β group, ssγ gastric cancer exhibited more frequent undifferentiated histology, disseminated lymph node metastasis and perineural invasion. Frequency of postoperative peritoneal recurrence was significantly higher in ssγ gastric cancer (P < 0.05). The 5-year survival rate for patients with ssγ gastric cancer was significantly lower compared with ssα/β group (63.2% vs. 74.8%, respectively; P < 0.05). Lymph node metastasis, vein invasion and infiltrative pattern (ssγ) were significant independent prognostic factors affecting survival in pT2b patients.ConclusionIn patients with gastric cancer invading the subserosa, infiltrative type growth pattern is closely related to carcinomatosis and poorer prognosis.