K. Tominaga et al., A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF RESECTED STOMACH-CANCER PATIENTS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE INCIDENCE OF 2ND PRIMARY CANCERS, Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23(6), 1993, pp. 331-335
The causes of death in long-term survivors of stomach cancer after a g
astrectomy have been investigated in a follow-up study of 320 such pat
ients, with special focus on the postoperative development of a second
primary cancer. The five- and 10-year overall survival rates of early
stomach cancer patients were 87.5 and 75.8%, respectively, and of adv
anced stomach cancer patients, 44.2 and 37.5%, respectively. A multiva
riate analysis identified the patient's age and stage of cancer at the
time of diagnosis as separate prognostic factors for overall survival
. During the observation period, 15 (4.7%) patients developed a second
primary cancer, so that no significantly elevated risk of developing
a second primary cancer was demonstrated. During the same observation
period, however, 48 (15%) of the patients died of a non-cancerous dise
ase, 12 succumbing to an acute myocardial infarction and/or heart fail
ure. Given these results, it is felt that continued follow-up of long-
term stomach cancer survivors should be pursued to prevent or impede t
he development of a non-cancerous disease and/or a second primary canc
er, so that the life of such former patients can be prolonged.