Can Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer Be Cured?

Locally advanced gastric cancer refers to cancer that has spread beyond the stomach but not yet reached distant organs. Unlike metastatic gastric cancer, which has spread throughout the body and is generally incurable, locally advanced gastric cancer can still be treated effectively with a combination of therapies.

There are two main scenarios in which gastric cancer is classified as locally advanced:

1. The tumor has invaded nearby organs such as the pancreas, colon, spleen, or liver.
2. Lymph nodes around the stomach have merged into a mass.

In such cases, treatment typically begins with neoadjuvant therapy, which may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation. The goal is to shrink the tumor and reduce the size of affected lymph nodes, making it easier to separate the cancer from surrounding tissues during surgery.

After successful preoperative treatment, a curative surgical procedure can be performed to remove the tumor and affected areas. This is usually followed by adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.

When treated with a comprehensive approach centered around surgery, the chances of long-term remission or even a cure are significantly improved. Therefore, patients with locally advanced gastric cancer should pursue aggressive, multidisciplinary treatment to achieve the best possible outcomes.