Oral S-1 Can Substitute for 5-FU for Treatment of Metastatic Gastric Cancer (10/16/2009)
Researchers from Japan involved in a multicenter clinical trial have reported that oral S-1 is non-inferior to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) or Camptosar® (irinotecan) and Platinol® (cisplatin) for treatment of metastatic gastric cancer. The details of this randomized study were published early on-line in Lancet Oncology on October 8, 2009.

Herceptin Improves Outcome of HER2-positive Stomach Cancer (10/1/2009)
Researchers involved in an international randomized Phase III clinical trial have reported that treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) improves survival among patients with HER2-positive, advanced and inoperable stomach cancer. These results were presented at the Joint ECCO 15 – 34^th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.

Aspirin Usage Decreases Risk of Developing Distal Gastric Adenocarcinoma (8/26/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Multiethnic Cohort (Hawaii and Los Angeles, California) have reported that the regular use of aspirin is associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of developing distal gastric adenocarcinoma. The details of this study were published in the August 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Gastric Cancer in Young Individuals Is Aggressive and Lethal (6/24/2009)
Researchers from the University of California at Irvine have reported that patients with gastric cancer who are 35 years of age or younger have more aggressive disease than older patients with gastric cancer. The details of this study appeared in the June 2009 issue of the Archives of Surgery.

Laparoscopy-assisted Surgery Produces Good Results for Early Gastric Cancer (6/24/2009)
Researchers from Korea have reported that laparoscopy-assisted surgery for early gastric cancer results in a 98.8% three-year overall survival in patients with early gastric cancer. The details of this study appeared in the June 2009 issue of the Archives of Surgery.