Clinical Features And The Role Of Surgery In Stage Iv Gastric Cancer: A Single Center Experience

212 Background: Gastric cancer is a prevalent global disease with significant mortality. Nearly 22,220 patients are diagnosed annually in the US, with approximately 50% of them presenting with disease that extends beyond loco-regional confines, and only a small percentage undergoing curative resection. We aim to study the clinical characteristics and survival benefit of surgery in stage IV gastric cancer. Methods: We reviewed the records of all patients diagnosed with gastric cancer in our cancer center from 1999 to 2013. A total of 272 stage IV cases were identified. Demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities (surgical vs. non-surgical) and survival rate were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier was used for survival analysis and Cox regression for univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Within the cohort 70 (26%) patients received surgery and 202 (74%) were treated with chemotherapy ± radiation. Mean age at diagnosis was 64 years in the surgical (S) patients and 66 years in the non-surgical (NS)...