Characteristics of gastric cancer in patients over 80-years-old

The number of elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing surgery is rapidly increasing because of the current aging society. To determine an effective surgical treatment method, the clinicopathological characteristics of such patients should therefore be clarified.Between 1979 and 2005, 2010 patients with gastric cancer underwent curative surgery in our institute. Clinicopathological characteristics of 109 patients in the elderly group (or = 80-years-old) were compared with those of 1901 patients in the young group (80-years-old).In the elderly group, cancers of the lower third of the stomach and differentiated types, and less-invasive surgery were common. The 5-year survival rate specific to gastric cancer was not significantly different between groups, but the overall 5-year survival rate including causes other than gastric cancer was significantly different (p0.01) at 82% in the elderly group and 67% in the young group.In the medical care of elderly gastric cancer patients, it is necessary to accurately determine the specific clinicopathological characteristics, and subsequently, an effective surgical treatment method.