Clinical effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy on complications and recurrence in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) on complications and recurrence in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHOD: This was a retrospective study. A total of 83 patients with AGC admitted to Chengde Central Hospital between Jan. 2019 and Jun. 2021 were selected and divided into the observation group(n=41) and the control group(n=42) using a random number table. Patients in the control group received XELOX chemotherapy, and those in the observation group received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent XELOX chemotherapy. Compared efficacy, pathological complete response rate (pCR), R0 resection rate, adverse reactions, and quality of life (QOL) before and after treatment between the two groups.

RESULTS

The efficacy, pCR, and R0 resection rate of the observation group were significantly increased compared with those of the control group. Comparison of complications showed the number of patients experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) reactions, increased BUN, increased GPT, alopecia, and pigmentation in the observation group was decreased compared with that in the control group, with no statistically significant differences(p>0.05), and the number of patients experiencing myelosuppression was statistically significant between the two groups(p<0.05). There were no significant differences in sub-scores of physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functions and the overall score of QOL between the two groups(p>0.05) before treatment.

CONCLUSION

NCRT is safer and more effective in patients with AGC compared with NCT, and can significantly improve the QOL of patients. It can be widely used in clinical practice.