A prospective Canadian gastroesophageal cancer database: What have we learned?

Minimal literature exists on outcomes for Canadian patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA). The objective of our study was to establish a prospective clinical database to evaluate demographic characteristics, presentation and outcomes of patients with GEA.

Patients diagnosed with GEA were recruited from Jan. 30, 2017, to Aug. 30, 2020. Data collected included demographic characteristics, presentation, treatment and survival. A multivariable model for overall survival in patients treated with curative intent was created using sex, lymph node status, resection margin status, age and tumour location as variables.

A total of 122 patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction were included. Median age was 65 years (interquartile range [IQR] 59-74), 70% of patients were male and 26% were born outside of Canada. Median follow-up time was 14.5 (IQR 8.0-31.0) months. Following staging computed tomography scanning, 88% of patients were deemed to have potentially resectable disease. Eighty-one (76%) received staging laparoscopy and 74 (61%) were treated with curativeintent surgery. Forty-six (62%) patients had nodal metastases. The median number of nodes harvested was 22 (IQR 18-30). The R0 resection margin rate was 82%. The 3-year overall survival for patients who received curative-intent treatment was 63% and 38% for all patients. On multivariable analysis, female sex (hazard ratio [HR] 3.88, p = 0.01), positive nodal status (HR 3.58, p = 0.02), positive margins (HR 3.11, p = 0.03) and tumour location (HR 3.00, p = 0.03) were associated with decreased overall survival.

Many of the patients with GEA in this study presented with advanced disease, and only 61% were offered curative-intent surgery. A prospective multicentre national GEA database is now being established.