Treatment strategies for metastatic gastric cancer: chemotherapy, palliative surgery or radiotherapy?

This study explored whether chemotherapy combined with palliative surgery and/or radiotherapy is a possible treatment for metastatic gastric cancer. Patients were divided into groups according to treatments. COX models were used to explore prognostic factors. Kaplan–Meier models and log-rank tests were used to analyze outcomes. Outcomes were analyzed before and after propensity score matching. Chemotherapy combined with gastrectomy or metastasectomy prolongs the survival time compared with chemotherapy alone (p < 0.05). Chemotherapy combined with gastrectomy plus metastasectomy and/or radiation therapy also prolongs the survival time (p < 0.05). Chemotherapy combined with gastrectomy could be a more effective treatment for metastatic gastric cancer. Chemotherapy combined with gastrectomy plus metastasectomy and/or radiation therapy could also be a promising treatment.