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Cancer research

Gastric Cancer Study Reveals Insights into Treatment Efficacy and Prognosis

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted by the Sakai City Medical Center has provided new insights into the effectiveness of radiotherapy (RT) and transarterial embolization (TAE) in treating advanced gastric cancer bleeding. The study, published in the journal BMC Gastroenterology, analyzed patients with advanced gastric cancer who experienced uncontrollable bleeding and were treated with either RT or TAE. The results show that RT exhibited superior hemostasis compared to TAE, but both treatments showed similar re-bleeding-free survival rates.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 28 patients, with 19 undergoing RT and 9 receiving TAE, and found that RT was associated with a superior rate of immediate hemostasis (94.7% versus 66.7%, p = 0.047).
  • The incidence of re-bleeding in the RT cohort was 15.8%, compared to 44.4% in the TAE group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.11).
  • The occurrence of adverse events was comparable between the two treatment modalities (21.1% for RT versus 33.3% for TAE, p = 0.48).
  • The study's findings suggest that the success of the initial treatment, along with potential for further interventions, critically influenced outcomes, emphasizing the importance of effective initial hemostasis.
  • Yuki Ushimaru, Department of Surgery, Sakai City Medical Center, led the research, which included additional authors Ryohei Kawabata, Kazuhiro Nishikawa, Tomohira Takeoka, Hiroshi Ikeda, Yutaka Kimura, Junya Fujita, Yoichi Makari, Akihiro Kitagawa, Nobuyoshi Ohara, Hideo Tomihara, Sakae Maeda, Mitsunobu Imasato, Shingo Noura, and Atsushi Miyamoto.

Statistics:

  • 19 patients underwent RT
  • 9 patients received TAE
  • RT exhibited a superior rate of immediate hemostasis (94.7%)
  • TAE exhibited a rate of immediate hemostasis (66.7%)
  • The incidence of re-bleeding in the RT cohort was 15.8%
  • The incidence of re-bleeding in the TAE cohort was 44.4%
  • Adverse events occurred in 21.1% of patients receiving RT
  • Adverse events occurred in 33.3% of patients receiving TAE

Sources:

  • Ushimaru Y, Kawabata R, Nishikawa K, et al. The effectiveness of radiotherapy and transarterial embolization for advanced gastric cancer bleeding. BMC Gastroenterology. 2025;25(1):1-7. (BMC Gastroenterology - http://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com)
  • Sakai City Medical Center. (2025). The effectiveness of radiotherapy and transarterial embolization for advanced gastric cancer bleeding. BMC Gastroenterology, 25(1), 1-7. doi: 10.1186/s12876-025-04177-3.

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