Comparison of Lauren's, Ming's and WHO histological classifications of gastric cancer as a prognostic factor for operated patients.

The prognostic significance of the above mentioned histological classifications is evaluated. The survival data of 259 supposedly radically resected patients is analyzed. The survival curves have been calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the Mantel-Cox test. The most important prognostic factors have been found and used in the stratification analysis. The diffuse type of cancer (according to Lauren) has significantly worse prognosis than the intestinal type only considering the same pT (pT3) and sex (male) or age group from 50 to 70 years. The infiltrative type of cancer (according to Ming) has a worse prognosis than expansive. The difference is insignificant even after stratification analysis. Worse prognosis of diffuse (or infiltrative) cancer is influenced more by the infiltration of regional lymph nodes than by the depth of infiltration, age or sex. WHO classification is less important as a prognostic factor. Signet ring cell type cancer has a worse prognosis considering age group 50-70 years.