Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Chile and worldwide. No consensus exists for therapeutic management. Aim: To assess clinical features and practice patterns of patients with newly diagnosed gastric cancer in Chile. Method: Chilean patients > 18 years old with newly diagnosed primary gastric adenocarcinoma enrolled by thirteen centers from different regions of Chile. Target sample size calculated according to gastric cancer prevalence in Chile. Data collected from two visits within a 10-month timeframe: baseline (patients and tumor features, treatment plan) and end of study (completion of initial treatment). Herein, baseline visit data is presented. Results: Between 2005 and 2008, 523 patients enrolled. Median age 61.3 years. Diagnosis by endoscopy in 98.5% patients. Location: body 35.8%, proximal 35.4%, and antral 23.9%. Most frequently used histopathological classification was WHO classification, with tubular adenocarcinoma being most frequent finding (53.1%). AJCC/UICC clinical staging (available in 31.1% of patients) was: 0 and I - 23.3%, II - 18.3%, III- 20.8%, IV - 37.6%. Therapeutic choice based mainly on clinical staging (49.9%) and included surgery in 440 patients (84.1%). Therapy planned by surgeon (54.9%) or multidisciplinary team (42.3%). Conclusions: REGATE is the largest prospective multicenter registry study performed in Chile. Basal visit data report that diagnosis is established frequently at advanced stages. Surgery is the most frequent therapeutic choice, (neo-) adjuvant therapies are only planned in one out of four patients. End of study visit data will provide the full scope of diagnosis and treatment of these patients.