Abstract:
Objective Alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer (AFPGC) is a rare malignant tumor characterized by its high invasiveness, aggressive metastatic behavior, and poor prognosis. The study aimed to investigate the difference between AFPGC and normal gastric cancer and to analyze the relationship between the clinicopathological features and prognosis of AFPGC.
Methods A retrospective analysis, involving 1,321 patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery in 940 Hospitals of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force from January 2013 to December 2018, was conducted. A total of 1,144 patients were screened for gastric cancer surgery according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were assigned into the AFPGC group (53 cases) and the serum AFP negative group (1,091 cases).
Results AFPGC accounted for 4.6% of the patients with gastric cancer within the same period. The 1-,3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates of AFPGC and serum AFP-negative gastric cancer were 64.2% vs 92.2%, 20.8% vs 45.1%, and 13.2% vs 25.7%, respectively. There were significant differences in preoperative serum AFP, tumor size, immunohistochemical HER2, tumor site, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, vascular invasion, surgical method, and postoperative liver metastasis between the two groups (P<0.05). Univariate and Cox multivariate survival analysis of AFPGC showed that the clinical stage, vascular invasion, surgical method, postoperative liver metastasis, and postoperative serum AFP re-elevation were associated with a poor prognosis for AFPGC.
Conclusions AFPGC is a special type of gastric cancer, which has a late clinical staging, high risk of postoperative liver metastasis and vascular invasion, and poor prognosis. Patients with AFPGC have a high risk of liver metastasis even after primary tumor resection. Preoperative serum AFP level was not related to the prognosis. Postoperative monitoring of serum AFP level facilitates timely detection of tumor recurrence and postoperative liver metastasis. In addition, early radical gastrectomy can help improve the prognosis of patients with AFPGC.