The prognosis of the patients with gastric cancer intraoperatively detected microscopical free abdominal cancer cells at Douglas cavity
14090 Background: The free abdominal cancer cells in the patients with gastric cancer probably result in peritoneal dissemination. In Japan, the detection of free abdominal cancer cells at Douglas cavity is usually examined immediately after lapalotomy for advanced gastric cancer, because this procedure is recommended in Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma 1999 provided by Japanese Gastric Cancer Association. The patients detected free abdominal cancer cells are diagnosed as stage IV, even if they undergo the surgical curative operation. However some of them have relatively long survival. We investigated that the amount of free abdominal cancer cells or histological type might affect their prognosis. Methods: Surgeon collected 50ml of saline with which Douglas cavity was irrigated. Pathologist stained cells by Papanicolaou follwed by differential centrifugation (2000G for 5 minutes) of saline. Among all 492 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer in our institute between 2000 and 2004, 46 patients underwent the curative surgery except free abdominal cancer cells. We investigated the amount of free abdominal cancer cells and histological type as the factors to affect prognosis of these 46 patients. The log-rank test was used to evaluate the survival curves calculated by Kaplan-Maier method. Results: 5 or less and more than 5 cancer cells per 1 cm2 were microscopically detected in 22 (Group A) and 24 patients (Group B), respectively. The median survival time (MST) of Group A and B were 877 and 384 days, respectively (P=0.16). The two-year survival rates of Group A and B are 63.7% and 27.2%, respectively. The cancer cells diagnosed histologically as differentiated and undifferentiated type were detected in 13 (Group X) and 33 patients (Group Y), respectively. The MSTs of Group X and Y were 877 and 383 days, respectively (P=0.13). The two-year survival rates of Group X and Y are 82.1% and 28.9%, respectively. Conclusions: In patients who have advanced gastric cancer with free abdominal cancer cells, a larger number or undifferentiated type of cancer cells may reduce the survival periods of patients with curative resection. No significant financial relationships to disclose.