Recurrence following curative intended surgery for an adenocarcinoma in the gastroesophageal junction: a retrospective study.

Recurrence following a resection for an adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction leads to reduced long-term survival. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with recurrence, recurrence localization, time to recurrence, and long-term survival. All patients undergoing curative intended resection for an adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction at Rigshospitalet between June 2003 and December 2011 were identified through a prospectively maintained nationwide database and enrolled in this study. Only histologically verified recurrence was considered eligible. Recurrence within six months, microscopically incomplete resection margins, and death within eight weeks were excluded. A total of 348 patients were included in this study. Biopsy-verified recurrence occurred in 120 patients (34.5%), with 32 local (9.2%), and 88 distant (25.3%) recurrences. Lymph node metastases was associated with an increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio; [95% confidence interval]: HR = 2.7; [1.7-4.3], P < 0.001). Median time to local versus distant recurrence was 18 months (interquartile range (IQR): 9-37 months) versus 17 months (IQR: 11-27 months), P = 0.96, respectively. A trend toward local recurrence was identified if patients had anastomotic leakage (HR = 2.64; [0.89-7.86], P = 0.08). Survival was inversely associated with recurrence, but a survival comparison between local and distant recurrences showed no significant difference: median survival time was 28 months (IQR: 17-43 months) versus 24 months (IQR: 16-36 months), P = 0.45, respectively. A trend toward local recurrence was seen if the patient had an anastomotic leakage event. However, no factors were associated with site-specific recurrence (local vs. distant).