Longterm survival after extended resections in patients with gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the treatment of choice for gallbladder cancer, but the extent of resection and its benefits remain unclear. STUDY DESIGN: Survival analysis of 42 patients who underwent extended resections for gallbladder cancer was performed. Resections were labeled R0 (curative) or R1 (noncurative) based on histopathologic evaluation. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses to identify factors associated with longterm (>2 years) survival. RESULTS: R0 status was achieved in 18 patients (43%): 100%, 100%, 45%, and 0% in stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Patients with R0 resections had a significantly better survival than those with R1 resections (median 25.8 months versus 17.0 months; p = 0.03). R0 status was achieved in only 3 of 20 patients (15%) with node positive (N1) disease compared with 14 of 17 patients (82%) with node negative (N0) disease. Patients with N0 disease had a significantly better survival than those with N1 disease (median not reached versus 17 months; p = 0.01). None of the patients with N1 disease survived 5 years; 5-year survival for N0 patients was 58%. Adjuvant therapy did not have a significant effect on survival. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with gallbladder cancer, R0 status could be achieved in only 43% of patients undergoing extended resections. R0 status and N0 disease were associated with better longterm survival.