Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of(adjuvant)surgery following the response to chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.
Subjects and methods: The subjects were 20 advanced gastric cancer patients who had undergone gastrectomy following the response to combination chemotherapy with docetaxel and S-1 from September 2003 to December 2008. They consisted of 14 men and 6 women, with a median age of 58. 8, who received combination chemotherapy with docetaxel and S-1 according to the following regimen: S-1, 80 mg/m2, was administered on 14 consecutive days followed by a 7-day rest period, and docetaxel, 40 mg/m2, was administered on day 1.
Results: The average treatment was 4. 4 courses. They consisted of 17 PR and 3 SD. The median overall survival was 855 days. 2-year and 3-year survival was seen in 80% and 54. 9% of patients, respectively, following macroscopically curative operation. Median survival of patients with liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination was 865 days and 510 days, respectively.
Conclusion: Adjuvant surgery might be effective in advanced gastric cancer patients except for cases of peritoneal dissemination.