Pattern of recurrence after surgery in adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction

Aims: This study reports mode, timing and predictive factors of recurrence after curative surgery for cardia cancer. Methods: A prospective study in a series of 92 curatively (R0) resected patients from 1988 to 2002. Results: The 5-year recurrence rate was 71%. Lymph node involvement was the only predictor of recurrence. No patients with more than 6 metastatic nodes were free from relapse 2 years after surgery. Locoregional, peritoneal and haematogenous relapses showed a similar median recurrence time (12, 10 and 12 months, respectively), 80% occurred within 24 months. Conclusions: Few patients can be cured by surgery, lymph nodal involvement is the only predictor of recurrence.