Outcome of gastric cancer in the elderly: a population-based evaluation of the Munich Cancer Registry

Gastric cancer accounts for 5 % of cancer deaths. Proportions of older stomach cancer patients are increasing. Despite the still poor prognosis, standardised treatment has achieved improvements; nonetheless it is questionable whether all age groups have benefitted. Age and outcome need to be examined in a population-based setting. Analyses included Munich Cancer Registry (MCR) data from 8601 invasive gastric cancer patients, diagnosed between 1998 and 2012. Tumour and therapy characteristics and outcome were analysed by two age groups (< 70 vs. a parts per thousand yen70 years). Survival was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method and relative survival was computed as an estimation for cancer-specific survival. Additional landmark analyses were conducted by calculating conditional survival of patients who survived more than 6 months. Fifty-nine per cent of the cohort were a parts per thousand yen70 years old. These patients had tumours with a slightly better prognosis and were treated with less radical surgery and adjuvant therapy than younger patients. The 5-year relative survival was 40 % for the youngest (< 50 years) and 23 % for the oldest patients (a parts per thousand yen80 years). Survival differences were diminished or eliminated after landmark analyses: The 5-year relative survival in age groups 50-59, 60-69 and 70-79 years was comparable (between 48 and 49.6 %) and slightly worse in the youngest and oldest (45 %), which may be explained by more aggressive tumours and effects of cellular senescence, respectively. The treatment and care of elderly gastric cancer patients in the MCR catchment area seems appropriate: if a patient's general condition allows oncologic resection and chemotherapy, it is conducted and the result is comparable between age groups.