Radiation and Chemotherapy, In Conjunction with Surgery, Increase Stomach Cancer Survival Rates

Thursday, October 30, 2003

Media Contact: Anne Tewksbury
Public Affairs
480-301-4368
www.mayoclinic.org/scottsdale/

For Immediate Release – October 30, 2003

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Patients with stomach (gastric) cancer should consult with a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist, in addition to a surgeon. Research supporting this treatment protocol was presented by Leonard Gunderson, M.D., radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, at the 45th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Salt Lake City on Oct. 19, 2003. Gunderson presented research which showed as much as a nine percent increase in survival rates and a 17 percent rate in patients being deemed "disease free" following treatment for stomach cancer with radiation and/or chemotherapy in addition to surgery.

"The standard of care for stomach cancer has historically been surgery alone," says Gunderson. "However, many patients are not cured with surgery alone. Depending on the extent of the cancer and the level of lymph node involvement, the patient may need more aggressive treatment with radiation, chemotherapy or both, either before or after the surgery."

Gunderson presented research from the U.S. GI Intergroup Study, the largest study of its kind to study stomach cancer. The study followed patients with surgery alone and with radiation and chemotherapy following surgery. At three years, the results showed a nine percent increase in survival rate and a 17 percent decrease in stomach cancer relapse. Gunderson also presented research from a study done in Beijing, China, with preoperative radiation and a study done in Dublin, Ireland, with preoperative chemotherapy and radiation. Both showed an increase in survival rates.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 22,400 Americans will be diagnosed with stomach cancer during 2003. The overall five-year survival rate of all people with stomach cancer in the United States is only about 22 percent. One reason for this is that many stomach cancers are not diagnosed until they are at an advanced stage. This is due, in large part, to the fact that symptoms can frequently resemble other benign conditions.

"Patients with stomach cancer are typically referred directly to a surgeon," says Gunderson. "Based on our research, we recommend a team approach similar to that used at Mayo Clinic, whereby there is also a consultation with a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist to discuss the options of radiation and chemotherapy. In our opinion, the research strongly supports the notion that there is a better chance of surviving and better yet, becoming disease-free, if you consider the option of more aggressive treatment."

Mayo Clinic is a private group practice of medicine dedicated to providing diagnosis and treatment of patient illnesses through a systematic focus on individual patient needs. As a leading academic medical center in the Southwest, Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale focuses on providing specialty and surgical care in more than 66 disciplines at its outpatient facility in north Scottsdale and at Mayo Clinic Hospital. The 205-bed hospital is located at 56th Street and Mayo Boulevard (north of Bell Road) in northeast Phoenix, and provides inpatient care to support the medical and surgical specialties of the Clinic, which is located at 134th Street and Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale.

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