• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.270-276
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• 2006

Purpose: The prognosis of Borrmann type IV gastric cancer is poorer than that of the other gastric carcinomas. We compared the clinicopathological features of Borrmann type IV gastric cancer with those of other types of cancer and analyzed the significance of a Borrmann type IV carcinoma as a prognostic factor Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathologic features, TNM stage and survival rates of 4,389 gastric cancer patients who received surgical management at Samsung Medical Center between January 1995 and December 2004. Results: Patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma had a more advanced stage than patients with other types of gastric carcinomas at the initial diagnosis, and the curative resection rate was lower. The 5-year survival rate of patients with Borrmann type IV cancer was 20.7%, and that of patients with other types of cancer was 50.3%. The 5-year survival rate of patients with Borrmann type IV gastric carcinomas was significantly lower than that of patients with other types of gastric carcinomas at the same TNM stage. In univariate and multivariate analyses, the depth of invasion, the nodal state, distant metastasis, the TNM stage, curability and the presence of a Borrmann type IV carcinoma were independent prognostic factors in cases of gastric cancer. Conclusion: Compared to the other types of gastric carcinomas, a Borrmann type IV carcinoma has unique clinicopathological features. The prognosis should be predicated considering the differences between Borrmann type IV qastric carcinomas and other types of gastric carcinomas, and multimodal and intensive therapies are needed in patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2006

Purpose: The prognosis for patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric cancer is extremely poor despite an aggressive surgical approach. We evaluated the clinicopathological features for Borrmann type IV cancers to find treatment strategy. Materials and Methods: The 1098 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent surgical resection between 1990 and 2001 were analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: 81 patients with a Borrmann type IV carcinoma, and 1017 patients with all other types of gastric carcinomas. Results: Patients with a Borrmann type IV carcinoma were younger than those with other types, and female was prevalent (p=0.000). Of the patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma, 68 patients (84%) were classified as stage III or IV at the initial diagnosis. The histologic type was commonly undifferentiated and serosal infiltration; nodal involvement and lymphatic invasion were more frequent in patients with a Borrmann type IV than in those with other types of cancer. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the extent of lymph node metastasis was a negative prognostic factor for Borrmann type IV gastric carcinomas. The curability for a Borrmann type IV carcinoma was only 53.1%, and peritoneal dissemination rate was 25.9%. The predominant pattern of recurrence for a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma was peritoneal dissemination, and it was significantly different with other types (93.1% vs 55.8%, P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate of patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma was significantly lower than those of patients with other types of cancer, even though a curative resection had been accomplished (26% vs 63%, p<0.005). The 5-year survival rates of patients with a Borrmann type IV carcinoma following a curative resection were 44.9%, 24%, and 0% for stages II, III and IV, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion: Because the prognosis for patients of a Borrmann type IV gastric cancer is extremely poor despite a curative resection, preoperative and/or intraperitoneal chemotherapy should be considered. And diagnostic laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology may be used to play an important role in accurate staging workup. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2006;6:97-102)

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2003

Purpose: The prognosis for Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer is dismal although therapies for gastric cancer have been developed. We investigated the outcomes for Borrmann type 4 gastric cancers compared to those for other types of cancer. Materials and Methods: Between 1993 and 2000, 777 patients with advanced gastric cancer underwent surgical resection at the Department of Surgery, Korea University Hospital. The clinicopathologic features of 138 patients with Borrmann type 4 carcinomas of the stomach were retrospectively reviewed from the database of gastric cancer. The results were compared with those of 639 patients with other types of gastric carcinomas. Results: Patients with Borrmann type 4 carcinomas tended to be younger and to have larger tumors. The location, the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis were significantly different between the two groups. Patients with Borrmann type 4 carcinomas had a more advanced stage than patients with other types of carcinomas. The analysis of the treatment factors revealed that total gastrectomies were more frequent in the group with Borrmann type 4 carcinomas and that the curative resection rate of patients with Borrmann type 4 gastric carcinomas was lower than that of patients with other types of gastric carcinomas (P<0.001). The 5-year survival rate for Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer was $19.4\%$ and that for other types was $52.9\%$ (P=0.001). In curative cases, the 5-year survival rates were $32.8 \%$ for patients with Borrmann type 4 gastric carcinomas and $63.4\%$ for other types of carcinomas (P=0.001). Conclusion: Borrmann type IV gastric cancer has more advanced features and a poorer prognosis than other types of gastric cancer. Improving the prognosis for patients with Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer requires early detection and a curative resection.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2007

Purpose: Evaluating the clinicopathologic characteristics of recurred gastric cancer is essential for early detection of the recurrence and for better clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to establish the patterns of the recurrence, the timing of the recurrence, and the clinical result after recurrence according to the clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: From June 1992 to December 2005, of the 1338 gastric cancer patients who underwent a curative gastric resection, 241 patients who recurred during the follow-up period were selected and their cases were analyzed. The clinicopathologic characteristics of the patients, the time to recurrence after operation and survival were determined retrospectively according to the type of recurrence. Results: For the recurrent group, the numbers of total gastrectomies, advanced stages, lymphatic and/or venous infiltrations, whole stomach cancer cases, large tumors, undifferentiated tumors, and Borrmann type 4 tumors were higher than they were for the non-recurrent group, and the differences were statistically significant. When the recurrence types were classified as peritoneal seeding, hematogenous recurrence, and locoregional recurrence, independent risk factors were female gender, stage III, upper third, and whlole stomach cancer, and undifferentiated- type, diffuse-type, and Borrmann type 4 tumors for peritoneal seeding; early gastric cancer, stage I for hematogenous recurrence; and Borrmann type 1, 2, and 3 tumors for locoregional recurrence. Survival duration after detection of the recurrence was shorter for peritoneal seeding than for hematogenous or locoregional recurrence (7.0 months vs. 9.5 months and 12.5 months). Conclusion: For early detection of the recurrence after curative surgery for gastric cancer, it is important to recognize that the high risk factors for recurrence vary with the clinicopathologic data for the patients.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2006

Purpose: The way in which the resection margin distance for gastric cancer patients who undergo a gastric resection influences the recurrence rate, aspects of recurrence, and the prognosis according to the characteristic of the tumor is not known. We aim to find a standard for tailor-made treatment after selecting patients in this point of view who need a more sufficient resection margin. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was done on 1,472 patients who underwent a gastrectomy due to gastric cancer at our hospital from 1992 to 2005. The median follow-up period was 37 months. Results: There were no significant differences in the recurrence rate, the aspects of recurrence, and the 5-year survival rate between early gastric cancer (EGC) patients with a resection margin distance of less than 2 cm compared with EGC patients with a resection margin distance of greater than 2 cm. However, significant differences in the survival rate were found in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients when the patients were classified into groups with resection margin distances less than or greater than 3 cm (P=0.02). Significant differences were noted especially in cases of diffuse histologic-type tumors located in the lower third of the stomach and in cases with Borrmann type-3 and -4 tumors. Conclusion: The distance between the tumor resection margin and the proximal gastric resection margin has no significant influence on the survival rate in EGC patients if the resection margin is negative. However, to improve a patient's survival rate, it is important to guarantee a resection margin of more than 3 cm in AGC patients, especially when the tumor is a diffuse histologic type located in the lower third of the stomach or a Borrmann type 3 and 4.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2004

Purpose: E-cadherin and CD44H have been shown to play a role in the progression and the metastasis of tumors. This study evaluated the clinical correlations between expression of E-cadherin and CD44H and various clinicopathologic factors and the value of expressions of E-cadherin and CD44H as prognostic factors in Borrmann type IV gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: In 122 patients with Borrmann type IV gastric cancer, we performed the immunohistochemical stainings for E-cadherin and CD44H. We analyzed the correlation between the expressions of E-cadherin and CD44H and lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, perineural invasion, histologic type, lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion, stage, and peritoneal dissemination, and survival. Results: There were no correlations between reduced expression of E-cadherin and CD44H and lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, perineural invasion, histologic type, lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion, and stage. However, there was a significant correlation between lymph node metastasis and the lymphatic invasion (P=0.022). There was also a significant correlation between the peritoneal dissemination and CD44H expression (P=0.005). The 5-year survival rate was correlated with CD44H expression expression (P=0.026), peritoneal dissemination (P<0.01), depth of invasion (P<0.01), lymph node metastasis (P<0.01), stage of tumor (P<0.01), and lymphatic invasion (P<0.01). There was no correlation between expression of E-cadherin and survival rate. Conclusion: The expression of CD44H and peritoneal dissemination was correlated. The expression of CD44H was an independent prognostic factor in Borrmann type IV gastric cancer. Further prospective studies with a large number of cases are required.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.124-131
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify prognostic factors in gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis and to specifiy which prognostic factors can be available in detail according to the depth of invasion. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was based on the medial records of 268 gastric cancer patients who received resectional therapy from 1990 to 1999. The patients who revealed pT2NOMO, pT3NOMO, pT4NOMO on postoperative pathologic reports were enrolled. The survival rate was analyzed according to clinicopathologic and therapeutic factors. Results: According to the depth of invasion, the number of patients with pT2a, pT2b, pT3 and pT4 were 86 (32.1%), 56 (20.9%), 108 (40.3%), and 18 (6.7%) respectively. Age, depth of invasion, histological type, Borrmann type, and Lauren classification were statistically significant in the univariate analysis, and the age, the depth of invasion, and Lauren classification were independent prognostic factors identified by multivariate analysis. On multivariate analysis of subgroups according to the depth of invasion, the independent prognostic factors were age, Borrmann type, and Lauren classification in pT2, and age, Lauren classification, and vascular invasion in pT3. The prognostic factors of pT4 patients could not be analyzed due to limited sample size. Conclusion: In advanced gastric cancer patients without lymph node metastasis, age, the depth of invasion, and Lauren classification should be checked to predict prognosis. In patients with pT2 lesion among the above patients, the Borrmann type should be added in check-list.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2005

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare clinicopathologic entity of unknown etiology with a variety of digestive symptoms. The pathogenesis is poorly understood. Diagnostic criteria include demonstration of eosinophilic infiltration of the affected bowel wall, lack of evidence of extraintestinal disease, and exclusion of various disorders that could mimic similar conditions. The disease might involve any area of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum, but the stomach and the proximal small bowel are most commonly affected. The clinical features depend on which layer and site are involved. We report the case of a 59-year-old male patient with a 3-week history of post-prandial vomiting with malnutrition and weight loss. An abdominopelvic CT showed a gastric outlet obstruction with diffuse wall thickening, as with linitis plastica. Three gastrofiberscopic biopsies showed chronic gastritis. We carried out a radical total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. The pathologic report revealed a mural type eosinophilic gastritis with a marked hypertrophic scar formation at the proper muscle layer. We report this case with a brief review of the literature. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2005;5:47-51)

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2006

Purpose: The macroscopic findings of tumors are not always identical with the microscopic findings. This study investigated the oncologic implications of macroscopic serosal invasion in advanced gastric cancer to find out how to improve the accuracy for the depth of invasion assessed by the surgeon during an operation. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 789 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent a gastrectomy at Kyungpook National University Hospital between 1995 and 1999 were reviewed. The prognoses and the recurrence patterns were analyzed according to macroscopic serosal invasion and microscopic serosal invasion, and the clinico-pathological factors of cT3/ss cancers were compared with those of cT3/se cancers. Results: Difference of survival rates according to macroscopic serosal invasion and microscopic serosal invasion revealed statistically significant. Recurrence rates were similar in patients with macroscopic and microscopic serosal invasion (42.2% and 41.4%, respectively). Peritoneal recurrence rates were also similar (19.8% and 21.9%, respectively). The sensitivity and the specificity of macroscopic assessment of serosal invasion were 70.3% and 77.8%, respectively, On univariate and multivariate analyses, Borrmann type I/II cancers and the absence of distant metastases revealed the risk factors for overestimating of serosal invasion. Conclusion: Macroscopic serosal invasion assessed by a surgeon intraoperatively can be used to give a prognosis and to predict the recurrence pattern precisely, although there is a risk for overestimation when the tumor is a Borrmann type I/II cancer or the tumor has no distant metastases. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2006;6:84-90)

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2005

Purpose: Bone metastasis is not a common event in patients with gastric cancer. Therefore, most studies of bone metastasis in such patients have been in the form of case reports, so the clinical features of the bone metastasis are not well understood. To clarify metastatic patterns, the efficacy of radiation or chemotherapy, and the prognosis, we analyzed 29 cases of patients with bone metastases after curative surgery for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine (29) gastric cancer patients with bone metastasis who underwent curative resection from January 1989 to December 2002 at the Departments of Surgery, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital and Our Lady of Mercy's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, were analyzed. Results: Nineteen (19) patients were males and, 10 patients were females. The mean age of the patients was $53\pm12$ years. There were more Borrmann type-3 and type-4 cancers and more undifferentiated histologic types. Most of the original cancers were stage III or IV. The most frequently involved bone was the spine. Treatment after recurrence was done in 16 patients ($55.2\%$). The median survival time after recurrence of the patients who received treatment was seven (7) months ($0\∼75$ months in range), which was significantly longer than that of the patients who did not received treatment (P=0.019). However, there was no difference according to the treatment modality (P=0.388). Conclusion: Bone metastasis after a curative resection of gastric cancer tends to occur in Borrmann type-3 and type-4 cancers, cancers with undifferentiated histology and, in stage III/IV disease. The prognosis of bone metastasis is dismal, and aggressive treatment is the only way to prolong survival.