Combined 5- Fluorouracil and Radiation Therapy Following Resection of Locally Advanced Gastric Carcinoma: A 5- Years Follow-up

The prognosis for patients with gastric carcinoma is poor; the overall 5-year survival is about 12% [1]. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for gastric carcinoma, and the results depend on the extent and penetration of the tumor into the stomach wall and the involvement of the regional lymph nodes. Analysis of the patterns by failure revealed that in up to 90% of cases there is evidence of locore-gional recurrence [2]. It has been suggested that a combined modality approach, including the delivery of radiation therapy to the tumor bed concomitant with chemotherapy as an adjuvant to surgery, may eradicate microscopic residual disease, reduce the local recurrence rate, and improve survival [3].