Background: Western literature lacks large-scale population studies comparing the influence of academic and high-volume (HV) versus low-volume (LV) cancer centers on gastric cancer oncologic outcomes.
Methods: The National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016 was used.
Results: 22871 patients were studied. Patients with stage III signet-ring cell gastric carcinoma (SRGC) received neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) more frequently at academic and HV comprehensive cancer centers (OR: 4.27 and 2.42; p < 0.0001 and 0.009) compared to community centers. Patients with stage III non-SRGC (NSRGC) had a 2.4 times higher odds of receiving NAT at academic centers. The R1 resection rate for NSRGC was lower at academic centers (OR: 0.67; p = 0.0018). Lymph node harvest ≥15 nodes was 1.6 and 1.9 times higher at academic centers for NSRGC and SRGC, respectively. Patients treated at academic centers had a significantly improved overall survival (OS).
Conclusions: Treatment at academic centers is associated with significant improvements in oncologic metrics and OS.
Keywords: Academic; Comprehensive cancer center; Gastrectomy; Gastric cancer; Signet-ring cell gastric carcinoma.
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