Yosuke Kano1, Manabu Ohashi2, Naoki Hiki3, Daisuke Takahari4, Keisho Chin4, Kensei Yamaguchi4, Satoshi Ida1, Koshi Kumagai1, Takeshi Sano1, Souya Nunobe1. 1. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan. 2. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan. manabu.ohashi@jfcr.or.jp. 3. Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. 4. Department of Gastroenterological Medicine, Gastroenterological Center, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Several factors are known to be significantly associated with a low completion rate of 1-year adjuvant S-1 monotherapy for gastric cancer. The present study investigated whether or not the specialties of physicians conducting adjuvant S-1 monotherapy affect the completion rate. METHODS: A total of 437 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy followed by adjuvant S-1 monotherapy for pathological stage II or III gastric cancer between 2008 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Factors affecting completion of adjuvant S-1 monotherapy, including the physicians (medical oncologists or surgeons) administering S-1, were evaluated by a multivariate analysis. The relationship between patient factors and physicians was analyzed regarding the cumulative incidence of discontinuation. The number of times the dose was reduced, the schedule changed, or administration was suspended or delayed in patients completing adjuvant S-1 monotherapy was also counted. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis showed that old age (≥ 65 years old), excess body weight loss (≥ 15%), and surgeons were independently associated with discontinuation. In older patients, the cumulative incidence of discontinuation by medical oncologists was significantly lower than that by surgeons. Medical oncologists ensured that older patients continued S-1 by frequent suspension or a delay in each course. CONCLUSIONS: Medical oncologists may facilitate completion of adjuvant S-1 monotherapy.
PURPOSE: Several factors are known to be significantly associated with a low completion rate of 1-year adjuvant S-1 monotherapy for gastric cancer. The present study investigated whether or not the specialties of physicians conducting adjuvant S-1 monotherapy affect the completion rate. METHODS: A total of 437 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy followed by adjuvant S-1 monotherapy for pathological stage II or III gastric cancer between 2008 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Factors affecting completion of adjuvant S-1 monotherapy, including the physicians (medical oncologists or surgeons) administering S-1, were evaluated by a multivariate analysis. The relationship between patient factors and physicians was analyzed regarding the cumulative incidence of discontinuation. The number of times the dose was reduced, the schedule changed, or administration was suspended or delayed in patients completing adjuvant S-1 monotherapy was also counted. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis showed that old age (≥ 65 years old), excess body weight loss (≥ 15%), and surgeons were independently associated with discontinuation. In older patients, the cumulative incidence of discontinuation by medical oncologists was significantly lower than that by surgeons. Medical oncologists ensured that older patients continued S-1 by frequent suspension or a delay in each course. CONCLUSIONS: Medical oncologists may facilitate completion of adjuvant S-1 monotherapy.