Characteristics and Survival Rate of Patients with Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma in Yazd, Iran

Background:Gastric cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Iran. Treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma varies worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate char- acteristics and survival rate of gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in Yazd, Iran. Methods: This study was conducted on 53 patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcioma who referred to Shahid Ramezanzadeh Radiation Oncology Center between 2004 and 2010. All patients underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Data from patients’ records were extracted and follow up was conducted through telephone contacts. To analyze data, Kaplan Meier curves and SPSS software were employed. Results: There were 17 (32.1%) female and 36 (67.9%) male patients. The mean age was 58.32 years. CT scans were performed preoperatively for 18 (34%) patients. In 14 (26.9%) patients no lymph node was resected or reported by the pathologist; in 29 (54.7%) patients one to six lymph nodes were found; and in 10 (18.9%) patients seven lymph nodes or more were detected. In 2 (3.77%) patients there were more than fifteen lymph nodes resected. Surgical staging was impossible for 16 (30.2%) patients. Mean survival was 50.9 months and median survival was 51 months. The survival rates were 73% for three years, 36% for five years and 18% for seven years. Among the variables only histologic grade had a significant relation to survival. Conclusion: Preoperative staging procedures and surgical resections are inadequate in our province. Survival rates are acceptable and similar to Western countries. This finding may have been the result of the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy regimens and radiotherapy used in our patients.