Clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma: a multi-institutional US study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Potential differences in presentation and outcome of patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) and non-cardia adenocarcinoma may exist. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of GCA versus non-cardia adenocarcinoma.

METHOD: Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastric resection between 2000-2012 were identified. Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes were analyzed based on tumor site using a 1:2 matched-control, as well as a multivariable Cox model.

RESULTS: Among 743 patients, 80 (10.7%) patients were diagnosed with GCA. Patients with GCA were more likely to have intestinal tumor type (GCA: 80.4% versus non-cardia: 64.2%, P = 0.04) or advanced AJCC T stage tumors (GCA 71.8% versus non-cardia 59.2%, P = 0.03). GCA patients more likely underwent a total gastrectomy (GCA: 85.7% vs. non-cardia: 39.8%) and had a longer length-of-stay (GCA: 10 days vs. non-cardia: 8 days) (both P < 0.05). Outcomes in early stage I patients were worse among GCA (disease-free survival, 44.2%; overall survival, 42.3%) versus non-GCA (disease-free survival, 60.8%; overall survival, 63.0%) patients(both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: In general, disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between patients with GCA versus non-cardia adenocarcinoma. However, long-term outcome was worse among patients with GCA and early stage disease.