Long-term survival of gastric cancer patients with positive immunocytochemistry peritoneal washings.

134Background: The prognosis in gastric cancer is highly dependent on tumor stage at presentation. Surgery still remains the main therapeutic option in gastric cancer patients. However, the efficacy of this treatment may be substantially limited by the risk of peritoneal dissemination. The introduction of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may affect the long-term outcomes in this group of patients, but high morbidity associated with such treatment provides the rational to identify the correct population of patients for HIPEC. Methods: This is the long-term effect analysis of prospectively observed cohort of patients assessed with immunocytochemistry peritoneal lavage in the single reffereal center. Between January 2002 and November 2004, the total of 140 patients with histologically confirmed gastric cancer were enrolled to the study. Laparotomy and intraoperative peritoneal lavage for immunocytochemistry examination were performed prior to gastrectomy. The fluid recovered was centrifuged and the sedim...