BACKGROUND: We retrospectively analyzed the influence of various clinicopathologic factors on the survival of patients treated with chemotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of 110 patients with stage IV gastric cancer who were treated from January 1996 to June 2004. RESULTS: Median survival time was 429 days for patients treated with S-1 therapy and 236 days for patients without S-1 therapy. A better survival was demonstrated in patients who had good performance status, one metastatic site, or had been given a second-line chemotherapy (P < 0.01). But very few patients (17%; 5/29) with multiple metastatic sites were able to receive the second-line chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with S-1 therapy had a better prognosis than patients without S-1. One metastatic site and being given second-line chemotherapy were other factors for better prognosis. For patients with only one metastatic site, a good prognosis can be obtained by second-line chemotherapy for those refractory to S-1. The prognosis of patients who had more than two metastatic sites remained poor; more effective chemotherapy might improve the survival of such patients if they retain good performance status.
BACKGROUND: We retrospectively analyzed the influence of various clinicopathologic factors on the survival of patients treated with chemotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of 110 patients with stage IV gastric cancer who were treated from January 1996 to June 2004. RESULTS: Median survival time was 429 days for patients treated with S-1 therapy and 236 days for patients without S-1 therapy. A better survival was demonstrated in patients who had good performance status, one metastatic site, or had been given a second-line chemotherapy (P < 0.01). But very few patients (17%; 5/29) with multiple metastatic sites were able to receive the second-line chemotherapy. CONCLUSION:Patients treated with S-1 therapy had a better prognosis than patients without S-1. One metastatic site and being given second-line chemotherapy were other factors for better prognosis. For patients with only one metastatic site, a good prognosis can be obtained by second-line chemotherapy for those refractory to S-1. The prognosis of patients who had more than two metastatic sites remained poor; more effective chemotherapy might improve the survival of such patients if they retain good performance status.
Authors: T Shirasaka; Y Shimamato; H Ohshimo; M Yamaguchi; T Kato; K Yonekura; M Fukushima Journal: Anticancer Drugs Date: 1996-07 Impact factor: 2.248