POSTGASTRECTOMY ANTICANCER CHEMOTHERAPY FOR STAGE-IV GASTRIC-CANCER EQUALLY TOLERABLE FOR PATIENTS UNDER AND OVER AGE 65

We compared the survival time and drug toxicity between patients with stage IV gastric cancer who were over and under 65 years. All had unde rgone gastric resection followed by treatment with mitomycin C and a f luorinated pyrimidine. There were no differences in prognostic factors or doses of drugs prescribed between the two groups, nor were there d ifferences in survival rates or toxicities. As advanced chronological age is not sufficient justification to limit or withhold treatment wit h anticancer drugs, postoperative chemotherapy should be designed for patients with gastric cancer, regardless of age.