Adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric carcinoma

The adjuvant chemotherapy (A.C.) is considered as a complementary treatment in patients who underwent radical surgery for gastric cancer, with complete removal of the tumor and absence of macroscopically detectable metastasis. This treatment is generally started within 4-6 weeks after the operation. The indication to A.C. is related practically only to the stage of the disease, due to the fact that no other prognostic factors of an increased risk of relapse have been detected. Two metanalysis have been recently published by Earle (1998) and Floriani (1998); both the two have recognized a possible effective role of the CA for Gastric Cancer. Naturally these "impressions" of efficacy documented by these two metanalysis should be confirmed through new trials with larger recruitment. In these new trials the new generation schedules (weekly PELF, ECF plus 5-FU), which showed an increased response for advanced disease, should be administered.