Effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound for treatment of abdominal lymph node metastasis from gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of combination treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and chemotherapy to those of chemotherapy alone for treatment of the abdominal lymph node metastasis from gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 185 patients with gastric cancer and abdominal lymph node metastasis were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: group A received chemotherapy alone (n = 102); group B received HIFU combined with chemotherapy (n = 83). The clinical efficacy and safety of the groups were then analyzed. RESULTS: The overall response rates of groups A and B were 34.3% and 47.0%, respectively (P = .046). The pain relief rates in groups A and B were 51.6% and 75.0% (P = .039). At the data cutoff, the median survival times of groups A and B were 8.6 and 11.9 months (P < .05). The adverse reactions in the groups did not show significant differences (P > .05). Among the patients treated with HIFU and chemotherapy, those with small abdominal lymph nodes (diameter <3 cm) had a better prognosis than those with large nodes (diameter ≥3 cm). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with gastric cancer and abdominal lymph node metastasis, the combination of HIFU and chemotherapy can provide clinical benefits. High-intensity focused ultrasound could effectively facilitate treatment of abdominal lymph node metastasis from gastric cancer.