Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of different treatments for synchronous liver metastasis from gastric cancer.
Methods: Clinicopathological and follow-up data of 271 patients with synchronous liver metastasis from gastric cancer between January 1998 and November 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Among 271 patients, 34 received surgery alone, 95 received chemotherapy alone, and 120 received combined therapy. The prognosis was compared.
Results: The median survival time was 8 months (3-41 months) in the surgery group and the cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 32.4%, 2.9% and 0. The median survival time was 7 months (3-50 months) in the chemotherapy group and the cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 21.1%, 1.1% and 0 respectively. The median survival time was 11 months (3-84 months) in the combined group and the cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 50.0%, 5.0% and 0.8% respectively. The differences among groups were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Extent of lymph node metastasis, therapeutic strategies, and liver metastasis management were significantly independent prognostic factors for synchronous liver metastasis from gastric cancer.
Conclusions: Comprehensive treatment based on operation may improve the long-term survival of patients with synchronous liver metastasis from gastric cancer.