[Prognostic factors and usefulness of chemotherapy with S-1 in patients received gastrectomy for stage IV gastric cancer].

Clinicopathological factors influencing the survival and the effect of chemotherapy with special reference to S-1 were retrospectively analyzed in 41 patients who underwent gastrectomy for stage IV gastric cancer. Significantly better outcomes were observed in patients with H0, P0 or M0 than those with H1, P1 or M1, respectively. Curability B surgery showed a significantly better result than curability C. A significantly better result was demonstrated in patients treated with S-1 alone than those treated with chemotherapy other than S-1 or in patients without chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that H0, M0 and chemotherapy with S-1 were significant and independent prognostic factors. Moreover, the patients treated with S-1 for more than 12 months showed a significantly better outcome than those treated with S-1 for less than 12 months. It is concluded that curative resection (curability B) and the longer period of postoperative chemotherapy with S-1 is the treatment of choice to improve the outcome of patients with stage IV gastric cancer.