Maximum gastric cancer diameter as a prognostic indicator: univariate and multivariate analysis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Nodal involvement and depth of wall invasion are established prognostic factors in gastric cancer.
• The prognostic significance of maximum tumor diameter (MTD) requires further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the influence of maximum tumor diameter (MTD) on gastric cancer progression and patient outcomes.
• To determine if MTD is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinicopathological data from 122 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy.
• Categorization of MTD into three groups (≤26 mm, 26-50 mm, >50 mm) and correlation with survival and clinicopathological features.
• Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to identify MTD threshold for nodal involvement; logistic and multivariate regression analyses to determine independent prognostic factors.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in 5-year survival rates were observed across MTD groups (54% vs. 31% vs. 20%).
• MTD correlated significantly with depth of wall invasion, lymphatic/perineural microinvasion, stromal reaction, and tumor stage.
• Depth of wall invasion was the sole independent variable associated with MTD; sex, nodal involvement, and MTD emerged as independent prognostic risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Maximum tumor diameter (MTD) is a significant prognostic factor in gastric cancer, with substantial implications for patient outcomes.
• MTD may hold greater prognostic value than previously understood, complementing established factors like nodal status and invasion depth.