Radiotherapy (radiation therapy) can reduce tumor mass preoperatively, before surgery, as part of neoadjuvant (preparatory) therapy for gastric cancer.
Radiochemotherapy (RCTX; a combination of chemotherapy and radiatio (radiation therapy)) may be indicated (recommended) after surgery under the following conditions: When neoadjuvant or periorperative chemotherapy has not been given and when:
- When a patient has functional inoperability or irresectability of localized adenocarcinoma of the stomach or esophagogastric (gastrointestinal) junction.
- The tumor could not be completely removed (R1 or R2 resection).
- The lymph nodes could not be removed far enough.
The study situation is not yet very conclusive. However, the results suggest that a survival benefit could be achieved in these cases.
