Recursive partition analysis of peritoneal and systemic recurrence in patients with gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy: Implications for neoadjuvant therapy consideration

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To classify patients with nonmetastatic advanced gastric cancer who underwent D2-gastrectomy into prognostic groups based on peritoneal and systemic recurrence risks.

METHODS: Between 2004 and 2007, 1,090 patients with T3-4 or N+ gastric cancer were identified from our registry. Recurrence rates were estimated using a competing-risk analysis. Different prognostic groups were defined using recursive partitioning analysis (RPA).

RESULTS: Median follow-up was 7 years. In the RPA-model for peritoneal recurrence risk, the initial node was split by T stage, indicating that differences between patients with T1-3 and T4 cancer were the greatest. The 5-year peritoneal recurrence rates for patients with T4 (n?=?627) and T1-3 (n?=?463) disease were 34.3% and 9.1%, respectively. N stage and neural invasion had an additive impact on high-risk patients. The RPA model for systemic relapse incorporated N stage alone and gave two terminal nodes: N0-2 (n?=?721) and N3 (n?=?369). The 5-year cumulative incidences were 7.7% and 24.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: We proposed risk stratification models of peritoneal and systemic recurrence in patients undergoing D2-gastrectomy. This classification could be used for stratification protocols in future studies evaluating adjuvant therapies such as preoperative chemoradiotherapy.