Histological grading in gastric cancer by Goseki classification: correlation with histopathological subtypes and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Many different classification systems have been proposed for the histological classification and grading of gastric cancer. In 1992 Goseki described a novel classification system for gastric cancer based on tubular differentiation and mucus in the cytoplasm. The aim of the study was to compare the Goseki classification with the currently used classification systems and to define the prognostic significance of the Goseki classification system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study analyzed material from 200 gastric carcinoma patients who underwent gastrectomy with curative intention. All specimens were categorized to UICC-classification, WHO-classification, Laurén classification, tumor differentiation and Goseki classification. The median follow-up for surviving patients was 3.75 years (range, 0.14-11.52).
RESULTS: According to the Goseki classification 32% of patients were classified as group I, 11.5% as group II, 9.5% as group III and 48% as group IV. The Goseki classification was found to correlate with the WHO and Lauren classification as well as with conventional grading. Goseki classification as well as tumor differentiation, Lauren and WHO classification did not have prognostic value for survival. Only the UICC system presented as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis (p < 0.000001).
CONCLUSION: In our series Goseki classification correlated with conventional classification systems, but not with survival.