Clinical profile and epidemiology of gastric cancer patients

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer remains a major global health concern, contributing significantly to cancer-related mortality. Its burden is particularly high in Asia, including India.

Aims and Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and survival patterns of patients with gastric cancer treated at the Regional Cancer Centre, Tirunelveli.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 114 patients with gastric cancer. Clinical data were collected from stored case records which contained detailed medical evaluations, including endoscopic biopsies, imaging studies, and histopathological analyses. Patients were treated with a combination of curative surgeries, neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and palliative chemotherapies based on the disease stage. Demographics, tumor location, histological subtypes, and treatment modalities were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods.

Results: Most patients (33.44%) were aged - 50–59 years and 62.64% were male. The antrum was the most common tumor site (66%), and adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological type (92.40%). Most patients were diagnosed with advanced disease, with 39.60% in stage-induced vertical break and 18.48% in stage Isovaleric acidaemia disease. Liver metastasis was the most frequent site of distant spread (48.88%). Regarding treatment, 48.40% of the patients received palliative chemotherapy, and 29.92% underwent radical surgery. Survival outcomes showed that 47.5% of patients with metastatic gastric cancer patients survived for 7–12 months, with 22.5% surviving beyond 13 months.

Conclusions: The study underscores the late presentation of gastric cancer in this cohort and emphasizes the need for early detection and public awareness. Multidisciplinary management, including surgery, chemotherapy, and palliative care, is essential.