CURRENT STATUS OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TREATMENT OF GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The complexity of the management of gastric cancer requires a multidisciplinary evaluation of patients with this tumor. Several treatments have been employed, associated to the surgical resection. OBJECTIVE: To review the available therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A review of selected articles on multidisciplinary treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma in the Pubmed and Medline databases between 2000 and 2017 was carried out. The following headings were related stomach cancer, treatment, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. RESULTS: There are several valid alternatives, with good results for the treatment of gastric cancer chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy in the adjuvant scenario; perioperative chemotherapy; and chemoradiotherapy after neoadjuvance with isolated chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Current evidences suggest that combined multidisciplinary treatment is superior to surgery alone. However, the optimal treatment regimen is not yet established, and depends on a number of factors, especially the type of surgical resection employed. Therefore, the therapeutic decision should be made by a multidisciplinary team, assessing patient's personal characteristics, biology of the tumor, residual disease, risks and side effects.