Proximal gastrectomy may be an alternative approach for well-selected patients with proximal gastric cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Study comparing total and proximal gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer found that more patients underwent proximal gastrectomy, with a higher likelihood of receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathologically, total gastrectomy patients had more advanced tumors and fewer evaluated lymph nodes, but lower margin negativity. Long-term survival did not differ between the two procedures, but neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved overall survival in both groups. Proximal gastrectomy may be a viable option after systemic chemotherapy for selected proximal gastric cancer cases.