Microwave ablation is effective against liver metastases from gastric adenocarcinoma

AbstractPurpose: The resection rate for liver metastases from gastric cancer is only 1.4–21.1%. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) for liver metastases from gastric adenocarcinoma (LMGC).Materials and methods: A database of 108 gastric adenocarcinoma patients with liver metastases who underwent MWA (n = 32) or systemic chemotherapy (n = 76) for LMGC between 2008 and 2016 was reviewed. Overall survival curves were assessed and compared based on different therapies.Results: All the patients were followed up for a median of 15 months (range, 2–68 months). The median cumulative survival times of patients after MWA and systemic chemotherapy were 25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 16.5–33.5) months and 12 (95% CI 7.7–16.3) months, respectively (HR 1.751, 95% CI 1.077–2.845; p = .015). The 1-, 3-, and 5- year survival rates were 80.9%, 31.2%, and 16.7% (MWA group); and 50.0%, 18.8%, and 5.4% (chemotherapy group), respectively. In the MWA group, side effects...