TY - JOUR T1 - Utility of Nasogastric Tube for Medical and Surgical Oncology of Gastric Cancer: A Prospective Institutional Study on a New and Precious Application of an Old and Economic Device JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 433 LP - 439 VL - 38 IS - 1 AU - EDOARDO VIRGILIO AU - GENOVEFFA BALDUCCI AU - PAOLO MERCANTINI AU - ENRICO GIARNIERI AU - MARIA ROSARIA GIOVAGNOLI AU - MONICA MONTAGNINI AU - ANTONELLA PROIETTI AU - ROSARIA D'URSO AU - MARCO CAVALLINI Y1 - 2018/01/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/38/1/433.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: Concerning gastric cancer (GC), nasogastric tube (NGT) is routinely employed for peri-operative decompression and palliative enteral nutrition. Additionally, we believe to have found a further application. Patients and Methods: Between April 2012 and April 2017, 96 GC patients received preoperative nasogastric lavage (GL). All samples were cytologically examined to detect the presence (GL1) or absence (GL0) of malignant cells. Data were analyzed with classificatory, staging and prognostic purpose. Results: GL1 was detected in 46 GC patients: association with tumor depth, lymph node and distant metastasis, lymphovascular and peri-neural invasion, diffuse type and signet-ring cells was significant (respectively p=0.0274, 0.0324, 0.0446, 0.0287, <0.0001, 0.0413, <0.0001). GL1 entailed significantly poorer overall (OS), progression-free, disease-free survival and tumor progression (18 vs. 32 months). At multivariate analysis, GL1 was an independent prognostic factor for worse OS (p=0.0287). Conclusion: NGT seems an economic oncologic measure useful for obtaining information on GC staging and prognosis. ER -