Optimal Timing for Gastric Cancer Surgery: Impact on Lymph Node Upstaging and Survival

Analyzing clinically node-negative gastric cancer patients, the study investigated the influence of time from diagnosis to surgery. Among 1824 patients, those with a longer interval (≥ 8 weeks) experienced less lymph node upstaging. Although overall survival differences appeared in Kaplan-Meier curves, multivariable analysis didn’t associate timing with survival. The findings suggest extended intervals don’t predict lymph node upstaging or survival, emphasizing the importance of preoperative optimization in early-stage gastric cancer management.