Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for potentially resectable gastric cancer

e14724 Background: Outcomes are poor in patients with gastric cancer, and recurrence is common. Perioperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) improve survival in patients with resectable disease. Experience with neoadjuvant CRT for potentially resectable disease is limited, and its role remains undefined. We report our experience using neoadjuvant CRT for potentially resectable gastric cancer. Methods: An IRB-approved, retrospective review from 1994 to 2007 identified 23 patients with biopsy-proven, potentially resectable gastric cancer. Patients had T2/T3 and/or N1 disease and no evidence of metastatic disease by endoscopic ultrasound and cross-sectional imaging. All underwent neoadjuvant external beam radiation with concurrent 5-FU or platinum-based chemotherapy followed by restaging and surgery if appropriate. Results: Of the 23 patients, 20 completed neoadjuvant CRT and surgical exploration. Two patients (n=2) had radiographic disease progression during neoadjuvant CRT and did not undergo resection. One patient (n=1) developed a perforated gastric ulcer during CRT and underwent emergent resection. The median time from diagnosis to surgery and completion of neoadjuvant CRT to surgery was 104 days and 37.5 days, respectively. Gastrectomy was performed in 17 (85%) patients who completed neoadjuvant CRT. Metastatic disease was identified in the remaining 3 (15%) patients. Following gastrectomy, a complete pathologic response was observed in 4 (23.5%) patients, a partial response in 11 (64.7%) patients, and no response was identified in 2 (11.8%) patients. One (6%) patient had microscopic positive margins, and 9 (53%) had positive lymph nodes. There was no perioperative mortality. Two (11.8%) patients had anastomotic leaks, which were managed non-operatively. The median length of stay was 10 days. The median disease-free survival was 10.5 months, and median overall survival was 19.6 months. Conclusions: Gastric cancer carries a poor prognosis. Surgical resection after neoadjuvant CRT has low treatment-associated morbidity and mortality. Survival and complete response rates are comparable to published series. Further evaluation of this treatment strategy is warranted to assess its efficacy.