[Shifting paradigm toward minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer--China's contribution]

Surgery is the cornerstone of gastric cancer treatment. However, the traditional open surgery, which has been followed for more than 100 years, has restricted the development of gastric cancer surgery due to its "major trauma" defects. Therefore, how to scientifically develop laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become the main research orientation and focus worldwide for the development of gastric cancer surgery in recent 30 years, especially in China, a region of high incidence of gastric cancer. In the past 30 years, our Chinese colleagues in gastric cancer surgery have carried out systematic researches on key issues, and offered new theories of minimally invasive anatomy, new techniques for MIS, and new evidence of MIS for advanced gastric cancer. The system of the key surgical technology innovation for gastric cancer MIS was established, promoting a crucial move in the development of gastric cancer surgery. This article aims to commemorate the 30-year development of laparoscopic surgery in China and pay tribute to the strength produced by all the Chinese minimally invasive surgeons.