Clinical observation of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in super-aged patients with advanced gastric cancer.

<bold>Purpose: </bold>To retrospectively analyze the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in super-aged patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC), as well as the effects of TACE on quality of life (QOL) and anxiety state.<bold>Methods: </bold>In this study, 32 AGC patients aged over 80 years old were enrolled and treated with TACE. Complications of TACE and total effective rate of symptom relief after TACE were observed. Changes of the maximum diameter of solid tumors before and after TACE were compared by reexamination of abdominal computerized tomography. QOL, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) scores of tumor patients were performed before TACE and 3d, 28d, and 90d after TACE.<bold>Results: </bold>No serious complications occurred during or after TACE in any patient. The total effective rate of symptom relief was 56.25% at 28d after TACE and 71.88% at 90d after TACE. Compared with before TACE, the maximum diameter of tumor was significantly decreased after TACE; ECOG was increased at 3d after TACE, while was decreased at 28d and 90d after TACE (P < 0.05); QOL and HAMA had no significant change at 3d after TACE, while increased significantly at 28d and 90d after TACE (all P < 0.05).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>TACE was safe and effective, could shrink tumors, and improve the QOL and anxiety for super-aged patients with AGC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]