Pelvic exenteration and composite sacral resection in the surgical treatment of locally recurrent rectal cancer

BackgroundThe incidence of rectal cancer recurrence after surgery is 5–45%. Extended pelvic resection which entails En-bloc resection of the tumor and adjacent involved organs provides the only true possible curative option for patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer.AimTo evaluate the surgical and oncological outcome of such treatment.Patients and methodsBetween 2006 and 2012 a consecutive series of 40 patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer underwent abdominosacral resection (ASR) in 18 patients, total pelvic exenteration with sacral resection in 10 patients and extended pelvic exenteration in 12 patients. Patients with sacral resection were 28, with the level of sacral division at S2–3 interface in 10 patients, at S3–4 in 15 patients and S4–5 in 3 patients.ResultsForty patients, male to female ratio 1.7:1, median age 45 years (range 25–65 years) underwent extended pelvic resection in the form of pelvic exenteration and abdominosacral resection. Morbidity, re-admission and mortality rates were 55%, 37.5%, and 5%, respectively. Mortality occurred in 2 patients due to perineal flap sepsis and massive myocardial infarction. A R0 and R1 sacral resection were achieved in 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate was 22.6% and the 4-year recurrence free survival was 31.8%.ConclusionExtended pelvic resection as pelvic exenteration and sacral resection for locally recurrent rectal cancer are effective procedures with tolerable mortality rate and acceptable outcome. The associated morbidity remains high and deserves vigilant follow up.     

Prognosis and surgical treatment of gastric cancer invading the pancreas

The clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric cancer invading the pancreas have not been determined. Gastrectomy was performed in 282 patients with gastric cancer invading adjacent organs at the Department of Surgery II, Kyushu University Hospital, between 1970 and 1987, and patient data were retrospectively analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Of these patients, 150 (53.2%) had tumors invading the pancreas and 132 had tumors invading adjacent organs other than the pancreas. In both groups, the undifferentiated tissue type with infiltrative growth, lymphatic involvement and lymph node metastasis was common. In cases of pancreas invasion, the extent of lymph node metastasis was more severe, vascular involvement was more frequent and the rate of concomitant liver metastasis was higher. The survival time of the patients with pancreas invasion was shorter compared to patients with cancer invading other organs, and pancreas involvement was one of the independent factors predicting a poor prognosis. With respect to surgical treatment of gastric cancer invading the pancreas, the prognosis was better for cases treated with curative surgery and pancreas resection. Of 39 patients treated with partial resection of the pancreas, the tumor had invaded only the capsule of the pancreas in 18 and the pancreas in the other 21. Pancreas-invasive gastric cancer cells are likely to advance via lymphatic and vascular routes and survival time is shorter, but curative resection can improve the survival rate, and perioperative treatment should be appropriately designed.     

行根治术治疗食管癌和贲门癌患者的预后分析

目的 探讨食管癌和贲门癌患者行根治术治疗后的预后影响因素.方法 回顾性分析906例行根治术治疗的食管癌和贲门癌患者的临床资料,选择12个可能对患者预后产生影响的特征性临床病理因素,运用Cox比例风险模型进行预后分析.结果 906例患者的1、3、5年累积生存率分别为89.8%、75.4%和71.7%.单因素分析结果显示,年龄、病理类型、病变长度、淋巴结转移数、临床分期、浸润深度、周围器官受侵情况与行根治手术治疗的食管癌和贲门癌患者的预后有关.Cox比例风险模型多因素分析结果显示,病理类型、临床分期、淋巴结转移数、周围器官受侵情况为行根治手术治疗的食管癌和贲门癌患者预后的独立影响因素.结论 病理类型、临床分期、淋巴结转移数、周围器官受侵情况为行根治手术治疗的食管癌和贲门癌患者预后的独立影响因素,临床医师在实际工作中可以参考借鉴.     

Combined resection of invaded organs in patients with T4 gastric carcinoma

Background. To understand the efficacy of gastrectomy combined with the resection of other organs and to refine the indications for this type of surgery, the records of 156 patients with carcinoma of the stomach directly invading adjacent organs or structures (T4 gastric carcinoma) were analyzed retrospectively. Methods. The patients were divided into three groups, as follows: in group A, curative resection was performed by the combined resection of invaded organs or structures; in group B, although combined resection was performed, curative resection could not be performed because of the extent of lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, and/or peritoneal metastasis; in group C, combined resection was not performed. Results. In patients with peritoneal or liver metastasis, there was no significant difference in prognosis among the three groups. In patients without peritoneal and liver metastasis, the prognosis of group A was significantly better than that of group B or group C, irrespective of the extent of lymph node metastasis or the number of invaded organs. In these group A patients, the 5-year survival rates of those with localized tumors and no lymph node metastasis, those with localized tumors and lymph node metastasis, those with infiltrating tumors and no lymph node metastasis, and those with infiltrating tumors and lymph node metastasis were 100%, 56.2%, 57.1%, and 13.6%, respectively. Conclusions. Combined resection of involved organs should be carried out with curative intent in patients with localized gastric cancer or infiltrating gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis. Received: July 16, 2001 / Accepted: October 18, 2001     

Transthoracic En-bloc Esophagectomy

In patients with esophageal carcinoma surgical resection remains the standard of curativetreatment.For locally advanced tumors (pT1sm-pT3) transthoracic esophagectomy with extended lym-phadenectomy is the standard surgical procedure since it offers a complete removal of the primary tumorand possible lymph node metastases.This surgical resection is appropriate for squamous cell but alsoadenocarcinoma of the esophagus because both histological entities demonstrate a lymphatic spread tothe abdominal compartment and the upper mediastinum.In-hospital mortality rates are between 6% and9%;anastomotic leakage and pulmonary complications mainly contribute to postoperative morbidity.Interms of 5-year survival the transthoracic procedure offers a better prognosis compared to the transhiatalresection.     

A clinical significance of direct invasion to adjacent organs in stage IV colorectal cancer

We studied a clinical significance of direct invasion to adjacent organs in Stage IV colorectal cancer. The subjects were 19 consecutive patients who underwent R0 surgery to the primary tumor for colorectal carcinoma, pT4, M1 1995-2003. We studied the relationship of pathologic invasion to adjacent organs of tumor among other clinicopathological factors to prognosis. Of the 19 patients, 11 (57.8%) had R0 surgery to the metastatic tumor. Only 4 (36.7%) patients survived more than 3 years. Of the 8 patients without the surgery, none of the patients survived more than 3 years. And the median survival time was only 8.5 months. Multivariate analysis indicated that RO surgery to the metastatic tumor was only an independent prognostic factor. The optimum resection for adjacent organs may prolong survival. But an extended resection is a possibility in shortening survival time.     

Prognosis of T4 gastric carcinoma patients: an appraisal of aggressive surgical treatment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite precipitous drop in the incidence of gastric carcinoma in Japan, it is still one of the leading causes of death associated with malignant disease. Once the contiguous organs are involved the prognosis becomes dismal. Prognostic factors governing the survival of patients with T4 gastric carcinoma remain unclear. METHODS: Between 1980 and 1998, 150 patients were treated for T4 gastric carcinoma. Results and prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: With a 73% resectability, patients with tumor resection had a significantly (P < 0.0001) improved survival rate. Within an acceptable operative mortality (2.6%), apparently curative cases had survival benefit (P < 0.0001) over noncurative cases. In the multivariate analysis, the death risk increased by 2.18 (relative risk) when splenectomy was spared from the operative procedure (P < 0.0071). Presence of esophageal invasion was the other independent prognostic factor in T4 gastric carcinoma patients (relative risk 2.11). Conventional prognostic factors along with the type of organs invaded by the carcinoma had no impact on prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T4 gastric carcinoma might be benefited from aggressive surgery with a curative intent. Whenever possible, splenectomy should be done along with invaded organ resection.     

经胸食管全切除术

In patients with esophageal carcinoma surgical resection remains the standard of curative treatment. For locally advanced tumors (pTlsm-pT3) transthoracic esophagectomy with extended lymphadenectomy is the standard surgical procedure since it offers a complete removal of the primary tumor and possible lymph node metastases. This surgical resection is appropriate for squamous cell but also adenocarcinoma of the esophagus because both histological entities demonstrate a lymphatic spread to the abdominal compartment and the upper mediastinum. In-hospital mortality rates are between 6% and 9%; anastomotic leakage and pulmonary complications mainly contribute to postoperative morbidity. In terms of 5-year survival the transthoracic procedure offers a better prognosis compared to the transhiatal resection.     

多脏器联合切除治疗中、晚期胃癌的疗效分析

背景与目的:目前,我中心所收治胃癌病例中26.05%的患者探查时发现已有不同程度的周围脏器侵犯。针对该部分中、晚期患者的手术治疗问题,长期以来存有争议。本研究旨在对该类病例手术治疗中联合脏器切除的可行性进行探讨。方法:回顾性分析我中心自1985年～1995年施行多脏器联合切除术治疗的44例中、晚期胃癌患者的临床资料,其中行根治性手术切除34例,姑息性切除10例。对不同性质的手术治疗结果进行分析。结果:联合脏器切除根治性胃癌手术治疗组中位生存期为588天(平均1676天),姑息性切除治疗组中位生存期344天(平均1045天)(P>0.05),无严重术后并发症,无因扩大手术导致死亡的病例。结论:联合脏器切除用于中、晚期胃癌的根治性治疗是可行的,即便是姑息性切除仍可收到较好的疗效。因此,只要情况许可,根治性的手术切除仍应作为其首选的治疗方式。     

Optimal surgery for advanced gastric cancer

Locoregional control remains a major problem after surgery, although a curative resection is still the only treatment to offer a cure for patients with gastric cancer. Despite the results of major randomized trials, the extent of nodal dissection continues to be debated. If there is a survival benefit to be gained by extended lymphadenectomy, added operative mortality should be eliminated. A pancreas and spleen-preserving D2 lymphadenectomy provides superior staging information and may provide a survival benefit while avoiding its excess morbidity. Splenectomy during gastric resection for tumors not adjacent to or invading the spleen increases morbidity and mortality without improving survival. Therefore, splenectomy should not be performed unless there is direct tumor extension. The Maruyama Index and nomograms that predict disease-specific survival may help to discriminate between patients with a high risk of relapse and select those patients who will be most likely to benefit from tailored multimodality treatment. There is growing evidence that gastric cancer surgery should be performed in high-volume centers with experienced specialists to reduce morbidity and operative mortality and to achieve better survival results.     

Morbidity and mortality rates following gastric cancer surgery and contiguous organ removal, a population based study

BACKGROUND: Complete surgical (R0) resection remains the only potentially curative intervention for patients with localised gastric cancer. To achieve a curative resection, patients may require complex operations with resection of contiguous organs. The aim of this study was to assess how the extent of surgical resection influenced morbidity, mortality and survival in an aged non-selected population with significant comorbid disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the Scottish Audit of Gastric and Oesophageal Cancer (SAGOC), a prospective population-based audit of all oesophageal and gastric cancers in Scotland between 1997 and 1999 with a minimum of 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 646 patients underwent surgical exploration for gastric cancer. A significantly higher incidence of chest infections (18.5 vs 11%, p< 0.05) and anastomotic leaks (14.3 vs 2.2%, p< 0.05) were associated with total gastrectomy (n=168) when compared to distal gastrectomy (n=272) resections. A 9.2% mortality rate and a 60% 1-year survival were associated with gastric resection alone. Removal of the spleen (n=131), pancreas (n=30) or liver resection (n=5) was associated with a significantly higher mortality rates, 18.3, 23.3 and 40%, respectively (p< 0.05), and significantly lower 1-year survival rates, 50.9, 39.1 and 20%, respectively (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of more extensive resection is not balanced by improved survival in this population based series. Extending gastric resection to involve contiguous organs should be confined to highly selected cases.     

Surgical strategies in patients with gallbladder cancer: nihilism to optimism

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder cancer is an aggressive disease with dismal results of surgical treatment and a poor prognosis. However, over the last few decades selected groups have reported improved results with aggressive surgery for gallbladder cancer. METHODS: Review of recent world literature was done to provide an update on the current concepts of surgical treatment of this disease. RESULTS: Long-term survival is possible in early stage gallbladder carcinoma. Tis and T1a gallbladder carcinoma can be treated with simple cholecystectomy only. However, in T1b and beyond cancers, aggressive surgery (extended cholecystectomy) is important in improving the long-term prognosis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy should not be performed where there is a high index of suspicion of malignancy due to the frequent association with factors (such as gallbladder perforation and bile spill) which may lead to implantation of cancer cells and dissemination. Surgical resection for advanced carcinoma gallbladder is recommended only if a potentially curative R0 resection is possible. Aggressive surgery with vascular and multivisceral resection has been shown to be feasible albeit with an increase in mortality and morbidity. However, the true benefit of these radical resections is yet to be realized, as the actual number of long-term survivors of advanced gallbladder carcinoma is few. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for gallbladder carcinoma, like other malignancies, has the potential to be curative only in local or regional disease. Pattern of loco-regional spread of disease dictates the surgical procedure. Radical surgery improves survival in early gallbladder carcinoma. The long-term benefit of aggressive surgery for advanced disease is unclear and may be offset by the high mortality and morbidity.     

Prognostic factors in patients with advanced gastric cancer with macroscopic invasion to adjacent organs treated with radical surgery

Background. The prognosis of patients with gastric cancer with invasion to adjacent organs is poor. The prognostic factors of patients with advanced gastric cancer with macroscopic invasion to adjacent organs (T4) who were treated with radical surgery was determined in the present study. Methods. A total of 86 consecutive patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent radical (potentially curable) gastrectomy with combined resection of other organs for macroscopic invasion to adjacent organs during surgery, were investigated. The organs invaded macroscopically were the pancreas in 43 patients, mesocolon in 29, liver in 7, transverse colon in 5, adrenal gland in 3, spleen in 1, diaphragm in 1, and other organs in 5. The prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results. The cumulative 5-year survival rate of the patients treated by radical surgery with the combined resection of invaded organs was 35.0%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that location of the tumor, lymph node metastasis, histological depth of invasion, and extent of lymph node dissection were significant prognostic factors in advanced gastric cancer patients treated by radical surgery with combined resection of adjacent organs for macroscopic invasion. Conclusion. For patients with macroscopic T4 gastric cancer located in the middle- or lower-third of the stomach, aggressive resection of invaded adjacent organs with extended lymph node dissection should be performed to improve long-term outcome. Received: July 21, 2000 / Accepted: November 28, 2000     

Impact of spleen preservation in patients with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Resection of the spleen en bloc with the stomach for gastric cancer is still widely performed for a curative resection (R0), but the presence of the spleen may have a favorable effect on recurrence control and survival. The hypothesis that the spleen suppresses tumor growth from minimal residual disease in the critical early postsurgical period and reduces the risk of recurrent disease was tested. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were included who underwent gastrectomy, with or without splenectomy, for gastric adenocarcinoma. Standardized, strongly-defined criteria were used to accurately stratify patients, who had an extended (D2) lymph node dissection, into the curative and non-curative resection groups. Limited, D1 resection confounds appropriate R-stratification and thus D1 patients were excluded. Prospectively-defined primary endpoints were early (within two years) and overall recurrence and death from any cause and secondary endpoints were postsurgical risks (morbidity, mortality) and metastases to the splenic hilum nodes. RESULTS: Overall survival for the total population studied (n = 202) was better for preservation-versus-resection of the spleen among R0 patients (p = 0.0001), but not for those with non-curative resection (p = 0.42). For the R0 D2 group of patients, preservation (n = 59) over resection (n = 67) of the spleen, there was no significant difference in in-hospital postoperative morbidity or mortality (3.4% vs. 0%). At a median follow-up of 112 months, significantly the preservation of the spleen, lowered the risks of early recurrence (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.69; p = 0.003) and death from any cause (p = 0.009) after adjustment analysis. Since at baseline there was a significant imbalance of tumor stage in favor of the spleen-preservation group, we conducted a stage-stratified subgroup analysis. This treatment effect remained consistent in the subgroup analyses according to nodal and serosal status, while in multivariate analysis preservation of the spleen was an independent predictor of outcome. An overestimation of the risk for residual disease in the splenic hilum nodes in the case of spleen preservation was obtained in 94% of splenectomized patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that preservation of the spleen may be associated with a reduced risk of early and overall recurrence translated into a better survival in patients receiving curative surgery for gastric cancer. A large randomized trial is needed to confirm this finding. Indications for splenectomy are few, being limited to those patients with advanced proximal cancers.     

Right hemicolectomy plus pancreaticoduodenectomy vs partial duodenectomy in treatment of locally advanced right colon cancer invading pancreas and/or only duodenum

IntroductionPancreatic or duodenal invasion by locally advanced right colon cancer is an unusual event whose management still represents a surgical challenge. This review aims to compare results of limited vs. extended resection in case of primary right colon cancer invading pancreas and/or duodenum.MethodsA systematic search in Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was performed. All trials describing the surgical treatment of right colon cancer invading pancreas and/or duodenum were considered. A data extraction sheet was developed, based on the Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group's data extraction template.Results5-years overall survival was 52% after en bloc pancreaticoduodenectomy plus right hemicolectomy vs. 0 and 25% in case of duodenal resection with correction by direct suture or pedicled ileal flap, respectively. 30-day postoperative morbidity rate was slightly higher after en block resections (12.8%) with respect to duodenal local resection and direct suture or pedicled ileal flap repair (0 and 12.2%, respectively). After extended resection the rate of pancreatico-jejunal anastomotic leakage was 7.7%.ConclusionsIn patients with right colon cancer extended to the pancreas and/or duodenum surgical multivisceral resection is suggested when complete tumour removal (R0) is achievable. Even though no significant differences in postoperative morbidity and mortality have been shown, 5 y OS has improved in extended resections as compared to duodenal local resection with defect repair either by direct suture or by a pedicled ileal flap.     

Multivisceral resection for gastric cancer: a systematic review

Background

The overall prognosis and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer is generally poor. One of the most powerful predictors of outcomes in gastric cancer surgery is an R0 resection. However, the extent of the required surgical resection and the additional benefit of multivisceral resection (MVR) are controversial.

Methods

Electronic literature searches were conducted using Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2009. All search titles and abstracts were independently rated for relevance by a minimum of two reviewers.

Results

Seventeen studies were included in this review. Among the 1343 patients who underwent MVR, overall complication rates ranged from 11.8 to 90.5%. Perioperative mortality was found to be 0–15%. Pathological T4 disease was confirmed in 28.8–89% of patients. R0 resection and extent of nodal involvement were important predictors of survival in patients undergoing MVR. Patient outcomes may also be affected by the number of organs resected.

Conclusions

Gastrectomy with MVR can be safely pursued in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer to achieve an R0 resection. MVR may not be beneficial in patients with extensive nodal disease.

     

肺切除合并心脏大血管切除重建治疗局部晚期肺癌

目的 总结349例肺切除合并心脏大血管切除重建术治疗局部晚期肺癌的临床疗效。方法 1983年2月－2000年12月,对349例肺癌患者施行肺切除合并心脏大血管切除重建术。肺切除合并肺动脉切除重建术205例;合并部分左心房切除重建术75例;合并上腔静脉切除重建术65例,其中3例同时合并隆凸切除重建术;合并胸主动脉切除重建术4例。结果 本组手术死亡2例,死亡率为0．6％。发生手术并发症53例次,发生率为15．2％。术后1、3、5和10年生存率分别为79．36％、59．93％、33．14％和23．56％。结论 肺切除合并受肺癌侵犯的心脏大血管切除重建术能明显提高患者的生存率,改善患者预后。     

Ultra-radical compartmentalized surgery in gynaecological oncology.

AIMS: To describe "ultra-radical" surgery in gynaecological oncology. This is multivisceral pelvic resection aimed at the eradication of locally advanced and recurrent gynaecologic cancer with microscopically tumour-free margins (R0). METHODS: Up-dated analysis of a prospective trial evaluating oncologic outcome and treatment-related morbidity of ultra-radical compartmentalized surgery carried out by the author. RESULTS: From 8/1996 until 9/2005 74 patients with locally advanced and recurrent gynaecologic tumours have been treated with ultra-radical compartmentalized surgery. Eighteen patients with central disease underwent exenteration as multimesovisceral excision, 56 patients with pelvic side wall disease received laterally extended endopelvic resection. In 72 of the patients the tumours were removed with microscopically free margins (R0). Two patients with advanced age and extensive comorbidity respectively, died during the early postoperative period. Moderate and severe treatment-related morbidity was 66%. At a median follow-up period of 29 months (1-112 months) 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival probabilities are 56% (95% CI: 42-69) and 56% (42-70). CONCLUSION: Ultra-radical compartmentalized pelvic surgery may salvage selected patients with locally advanced and recurrent gynaecologic malignancies including those with pelvic side wall disease traditionally not considered for surgical therapy.     

119例进展期胆囊癌临床治疗的疗效分析

目的:分析能够影响进展期胆囊癌(gallbladder cancer,GBC)患者预后的因素,探讨不同治疗方法对患者预后的影响。方法:收集2003年1月至2012年12月我院收治的119例进展期GBC患者的临床资料和随访资料,通过单因素分析和多因素分析探讨预后相关因素,并进行生存分析。结果:单因素分析提示,CEA、CA199、术前胆红素水平、有无黄疸、肿瘤分化程度、治疗方式、切缘、TNM分期及淋巴结转移均为影响患者预后的危险因素。多因素分析提示,TNM分期为ⅢA~ⅣA期、淋巴结转移、低分化或未分化、治疗方式和是否实现根治性R0切除是影响进展期GBC患者预后的危险因素。ⅢA和ⅢB期患者接受的治疗方法有GBC标准根治术、扩大根治术、术后化疗、姑息治疗和支持治疗,接受不同治疗的ⅢA期患者的中位生存时间分别为10.3个月、14.0个月、27.8个月、9.0个月和5.7个月,ⅢB期患者则为12.0个月、22.0个月、23.9个月、7.9个月和3.1个月,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。接受根治性治疗的患者中,R0切除率为85.3%,1年、3年和5年生存率分别为72.3%、33.6%和20.0%,均优于接受非根治性R1/2切除组的患者(21.8%、0%和0%),且中位生存时间也明显延长(29.9个月vs 10.3个月),差异有统计学意义(χ2=15.012,P<0.05)。结论:影响进展期GBC患者预后的因素有低分化或未分化、治疗方式不同、原发肿瘤能否根治性R0切除、TNM为ⅢA~ⅣA期以及淋巴结转移。根治性R0切除组患者的预后明显优于非根治性切除组。对于ⅢA~ⅣA期的患者,在患者身体条件允许的前提下,可通过GBC扩大根治术提高根治性切除率,术后再适当予以辅助化疗,可在一定程度上改善患者的术后生存期。     

Prognostic indicators in locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) treated with preoperative chemotherapy and D2-gastrectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly considered an effective treatment option for patients with gastric carcinoma. Aim of the study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of the pathological response and of known prognostic factors in a group of accurately staged locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) patients. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with LAGC, staged by laparoscopy, underwent D2-gastrectomy after preoperative chemotherapy. Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and differences were assessed by the Log-rank and Breslow test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model in backward stepwise regression. RESULTS: Curative resection (R0) was achieved in 81.8% of patients. A complete or subtotal pathological response was documented in 3 and 6%, respectively. Nineteen out of thirty-three (57.6%) patients were alive and 16 of them were free of relapse at last follow-up. Survival rates were 81, 67, and 59% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. At univariate and multivariate analysis, only R0 resection was found to be an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, R0 resection is the most important prognostic factor for resectable LAGC; according to our results we feel encouraged to consider neoadjuvant chemotherapy a promising modality for increasing the R0-percentage of gastric carcinoma patients who could benefit from a curative surgery.