Stage IIIA Gastric Cancer Explained

Gastric cancer Stage IIIA is classified as locally advanced disease. The staging of stomach cancer follows the TNM classification system, where Stage I represents early disease, Stage II indicates early-mid stage, Stage III refers to locally advanced or mid-late stage cancer, and Stage IV is defined as metastatic or late-stage disease. In China, the distribution of gastric cancer stages is approximately 2% for Stage I, 21% for Stage II, 30% for Stage III, and around 40% for Stage IV.

Patients with Stage IIIA gastric cancer typically undergo a multimodal treatment approach. The primary treatment involves radical surgical resection, often combined with adjuvant chemotherapy. This combination helps reduce tumor size and improve surgical outcomes.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is now strongly recommended before surgery for Stage IIIA patients. This approach has been shown to improve both progression-free survival and overall survival rates by shrinking the tumor prior to surgical removal.

Post-surgery adjuvant therapy is also commonly advised to reduce the risk of recurrence. Studies have demonstrated that combining chemotherapy with surgery significantly enhances long-term outcomes for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Medical guidelines increasingly support a tailored treatment plan that integrates both chemotherapy and surgery, especially for patients diagnosed at Stage IIIA. This strategy aims to maximize survival benefits while managing potential side effects and maintaining quality of life.