Gastric cancer and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy: when and where, that's the question.

Abstract Although the incidence of gastric cancer is decreasing, there were still 159,900 new cases and 118,200 deaths in Europe in 2006 representing the 5th highest incidence and 4th highest cause of cancer-related deaths. Postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy has been demonstrated to result in a significant improvement in overall and disease-free survival. We studied the current role of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in gastric cancer. Randomized phase III studies and selected phase II studies for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in gastric cancer were searched in PUBMED using key words. Also, international treatment guidelines as well as review papers were searched and analysed. Based on the published literature, treatment guidelines and reports from international meetings it is obvious that adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in gastric cancer contributes in improved treatment results. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of curative treatment for gastric cancer. The combination of modern radiotherapy techniques with chemotherapy is feasible, safe and improves overall survival of patients with gastric cancer.