• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 2020

Purpose: The objective of the present retrospective analysis was to describe the experience of intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel and systemic chemotherapy in patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) in a multicenter setting in Korea. Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients with AGC, who were diagnosed with PM between January 2015 and December 2018, were reviewed. IP catheter was placed in the pouch of Douglas and was used for the administration of IP paclitaxel chemotherapy. Results: We reviewed the clinical outcomes of IP paclitaxel and systemic chemotherapy administration in 82 patients at six institutions in Korea. Mean number of IP chemotherapy cycles was 6.6. The mean peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 21.9. Postoperative complications related to IP catheter and port were observed in 15 patients. The overall median survival was 20.0 months. A significant difference was observed in the survival rate according to the ascites grade (grade I and II, 24.1 months; grade III and IV, 15.3 months; P=0.014) and PCI grade (grade I, 25.6 months; grade II and III, 16.3 months; P=0.023). Conclusions: The feasibility of IP paclitaxel and systemic chemotherapy administration was demonstrated in this experience-based retrospective analysis suggesting that the procedure is beneficial in patients with PM of AGC.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2014

Purpose: The role of peritoneal washing cytology in determining further treatment strategies after surgery for gastric cancer remains unclear. One reason for this is the fact that optimal procedures to increase the accuracy of predicting peritoneal metastasis have not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cytology using samples harvested from two different abdominal cavity sites during gastric cancer surgery. Materials and Methods: We prospectively recruited 108 patients who were clinically diagnosed with locally advanced gastric cancer (higher than cT1 stage disease). Peritoneal washing fluids were collected from the pouch of Douglas and the subphrenic area. Patients were prospectively followed up for 2 years to determine the recurrence and survival rates. Results: Thirty-three patients dropped out of the study for various reasons, so 75 patients were included in the final analysis. Seven patients (9.3%) showed positive cytology findings, of whom, three showed peritoneal recurrence. Tumor size was the only factor associated with positive cytology findings (P=0.037). The accuracy and specificity of cytology for predicting peritoneal recurrence were 90.1% and 94.2%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity was 50.0%. The survival rate did not differ between patients with positive cytology findings and those with negative cytology findings (P=0.081). Conclusions: Peritoneal washing cytology using samples harvested from two different sites in the abdominal cavity was not able to predict peritoneal recurrence or survival in gastric cancer patients. Further studies will be required to determine whether peritoneal washing cytology during gastric cancer surgery is a meaningful procedure.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.128-133
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• 2003

Purpose: The benefits of the 'no-touch' isolation techniquethat is usually performed to prevent the circulation of tumor cells are not evident. The aim of this study was to determine whether the no-touch isolation technique for treating gastrointestinal cancers could prevent the circulation of tumor cells detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Matrials and Methods: By using RT-PCR to amplify mRNAs for two specific epithelial markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 20 (CK-20), we examined 34 gastric cancer patients who had been histologically diagnosed and 22 patients had undergone serosal and peritoneal brushing. Results: In 10 ($29.4\%$) of the 34 gastric cancer patients, we detected CK20 mRNA before manipulation, and in 17 ($51.5\%$) of those patients, after we detected it. The density of the CK20 mRNA band was increased in 11 cases ($33.3\%$) and the density was decreased in 2 cases ($6.1\%$). In 16 ($48.5\%$) of the 34 gastric cancer patients, we detected CEA mRNA before manipulation, and in 17 ($51.5\%$) patients after we detected it. The density of the CEA mRNA band was increased in 8 cases ($24.2\%$) and decreased in 3 cases ($9.1\%$). Conclusion: These result suggest that the ' no-touch isolation technique ' might be useful when operating on advanced gastric cancer patients and that serosal or Douglas pouch brushing can be used to determine the status of micrometastasis.