Clinical correlates of resectability and survival in gastric carcinoma.

The course of 201 patients with carcinoma of the stomach treated from 1962 through 1966 was followed with 97% determinacy for 10 years. The actual five year survival rate was 11%; the ten year rate was 7%. The mean duration of survival was 5.8 +/- 2.7 (S.D.) months. These results were similar to those reported for the period 1922-1926. Survival was strongly correlated with the surgeon's assessment after exploration. All patients alive after five years had operations thought to be curative, usually partial gastrectomies; the survival rate of this group was 24%. Gastroenterostomy was ineffectual palliation. Better results will require nonsurgical adjuncts, since the correlates of survival are those of minimally invasive cancer.