Clinicopathologic study of node-negative advanced gastric cancer and analysis of factors predicting its recurrence and prognosis

BackgroundThis study aimed to reveal the predictors for the recurrence pattern of gastric cancer (GC) and analyze the prognostic factors in node-negative advanced (T2 to T4) GC after curative resection.MethodsBetween 1994 and 2006, 448 patients with node-negative advanced GC undergoing radical resection were enrolled in this study. Clinicopathologic factors affecting the recurrence pattern and prognosis for GC were analyzed.ResultsLocation, size, tumor invasion depth, and perineural invasion were associated with tumor recurrence and outcome. T4 status was a predictor for locoregional recurrence and peritoneal seeding, and a large tumor size and the presence of perineural invasion predicted hematogenous spread. Patients with only locoregional recurrence had better survival than those with peritoneal seeding or hematogenous spread.ConclusionsIn node-negative advanced GC, the prognostic factor differed significantly between locoregional recurrence/peritoneal seeding and hematogenous metastasis. Survival rates were higher in patients with locoregional recurrence alone than in patients with other recurrence patterns.