Abstract: Objective To compare clinical outcomes and postoperative quality of life (QOL) of difference surgical strategies for patients with esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer, and investigate the best surgical strategy. Methods A total of 148 patients with EGJ cancer underwent surgical treatment in Xuzhou First People’s Hospital from July 2007 to October 2011. There were 111 male patients and 37 female patients with an average age of 64 (47-77)years. All the patients were divided into 3 groups according to different surgical strategies for them based on their respective preoperative assessment and tumor invasion degree. In group A, 81 patients underwent proximal subtotal gastrectomy and subaortic gastroesophageal anastomosis. In group B, 20 patients underwent total gastrectomy and esophagojejunostomy. In group C, 47 patients underwent proximal subtotal gastrectomy and jejunal interposition. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were compared among the three groups. Cancer metastasis rate and 1-year survival rate were also compared among the three groups. QOL questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C-30 and tumor specific module QLQ-OES24) was used to evaluate patients’ QOL during follow-up. Results There was no statistical difference in postoperative morbidity (P=0.762)and mortality (P=0.650)among the three groups. There was no statistical difference in cancer metastasis rate at 1 year after surgery among the three groups (P=0.983). One-year survival rate was 100% in all the three groups. At 1 year after surgery, physical functioning score (P=0.037,0.000) and global health score (P=0.035,0.006) of group A and group C were significantly higher than those of group B, and there was no statistical difference in physical functioning score and global health score between group A and group C (P>0.05). Emotional function score of group B was significantly lower than that of group C (P=0.015). Fatigue score (P=0.040,0.006), anorexia(P=0.045,0.025), nausea and vomiting symptom score (P=0.033,0.048) of group A and group C were significantly lower than those of group B. Pain score of group A was significantly lower than that of group C (P=0.009). Insomnia score of group A was significantly higher than that of group C (P=0.028). Reflux score of group A was significantly higher than that of group B and group C (P=0.025,P=0.021). Conclusion Postoperative QOL in patients with EGJ cancer who undergo total gastrectomy is comparatively unsatisfactory. Proximal subtotal gastrectomy and jejunal interposition can significantly improve postoperative QOL. Postoperative QOL evaluation is helpful to choose better surgical strategies for patients with EGJ cancer.
Objective To evaluate the effect of total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) for the treatment of advanced esophagogastric junction cancer. Methods Clinical data of 273 cases of advanced esophagogastric junction cancer who underwent TG and PG in our hospital from Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2010 were reviewed for retrospective analysis. Operation related indexes, 3-year cumulative survival rate, and 5-year cumulative survival rate were compared and evaluated. Results There was no significant difference between TG group and PG group in intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and hospital stay(P > 0.05), but the number of dissected lymph nodes in TG group was obviously more than those of PG group, and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.000). The postoperative complication rates were 10.3%(12/117)in TG group and 21.8%(34/156) in PG group respectively, which was lower in TG group(χ2=6.353, P < 0.05). The 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates of TG group were 58.9% and 34.2%, of PG group were 43.4% and 23.6% respectively, and the 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates were all lower in PG group(χ2=5.894, P < 0.05;χ2=5.582, P < 0.05). For patients in stage pT4, pN2, and TNMⅢ, whose tumor size were bigger than 3.0 cm, and patients who had accept chemotherapy, the 3-and 5-year cumulative survival rates of TG group were significantly higher than those of PG group(P < 0.05). However, for patients in stage pT2, pT3, pN0, pN1, pN3, TNMⅠ, TNMⅡ, TNMⅣ, whose tumor size were smaller than 3.0 cm, who had not accept chemotherapy, and patients of any pathological type, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates(P > 0.05). Conclusion For the patients who suffered from advanced esophagogastric junction cancer, TG can improve long-term survival rate, and it can significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and improve postoperative quality of life.
The diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer is a systematic and frameworking medical task in a multidisciplinary manner. New models, new technologies, new regimens, and new drugs have been developed to explore the best strategies to improve the survival of patients with gastric cancer. Here we discussed the research progress and guideline updates in four aspects, including the accurate staging-classification-based treatment strategy, the quality control in the surgery, the rational perioperative neoadjuvant-adjuvant therapies, and molecular classification joint with precision medicine. The purpose is to further promote the standardized gastric cancer management in China and emphasize its importance. From the updates of knowledge and the transformation of understanding and recognition, to the quality improvement, it’s critical to reduce the heterogeneity of the quality of gastric cancer management in China, as well as enhance adherence to guidelines and consensuses.