Analysis of the prognostic factors and evaluation of surgical treatment for synchronous liver metastases from gastric cancer

Whether or not a synchronous resection of liver metastases from gastric cancer provides a survival benefit has been a key issue. We identify the significant prognostic factors and clarify the beneficial effect on the survival of liver surgical treatment. We reviewed 72 patients who underwent a gastrectomy for gastric cancer with synchronous liver metastases and classified the liver metastases into three grades, such as H1: metastases were limited to one of the lobes, H2: there were a few scattered metastases in both lobes, and H3: there were numerous scattered metastases. H1, 2 metastases, and an absence of peritoneal dissemination (P0) were significantly independent prognostic factors for liver metastases of gastric cancer. In addition, the cumulative 1 and 5-year survival rates of liver surgical treatment (hepatic resection and/or microwave coagulation therapy) were 80.0% and 60.0%, whereas the survival rates for non-hepatic surgical treatment were 36.4% and 0% in 26 patients with H1, 2, and P0. In those patients, the radical operation, the solitary metastatic liver tumor, and no-distant lymph node metastases were independent prognostic determinants of survival. The radical operation including the surgical treatment for metastatic liver tumors should be performed to improve the prognosis in gastric cancer patients with synchronous H1, 2, and P0.