Role of Radiation Treatment for Stomach Cancer

Radiation is used concurrently with radiosensitizing chemotherapy to improve local control and survival in the post-operative setting.

Indications

Radiation is indicated for adenocarcinoma of the stomach or GE junction, stage IB – IV, resected with negative margins and no more than 2 cm of esophageal involvement.

Patients must have adequate major organ function, caloric intake of at least 1500/day, and have a performance status of 2 or better. Treatment should start within 90 days of surgery (ideally within 30 days).

Benefits

Adjuvant radiochemotherapy for patients with completely resected (R0) gastric cancer is associated with a 10% improvement in absolute survival at 7 years. No proven benefit exists for patients with residual disease, microscopic positive resection margins, or unresectable tumours. Palliative radiotherapy is occasionally considered in these situations.

Special Programs 

We routinely use conformal radiotherapy techniques to limit radiation doses to critical structures such as the kidneys, liver and bowel. We are conducting technical research aimed at developing an IMRT program for this disease.

How to Make a Referral

Patients with gastrointestinal cancer may be referred to one of the radiation oncologists in the Site Group either through the departmental referral process or by contacting one of the physicians directly.

This page was last updated June 7th, 2005 at 4:38pm.