Laparoscopic Conversion Surgery After Three Years of Palliative Chemotherapy for Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Unresectable advanced gastric cancer remains a challenge in treatment, often requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Numerous studies have emphasized the role of palliative chemotherapy as the mainstay treatment for unresectable advanced gastric cancers. Some patients may still require conversion surgery to achieve survival gain and palliation. Several recent papers have shown the safety of laparoscopic gastrectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. However, there is a difference between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and palliative chemotherapy in terms of the duration of chemotherapy (about 3 months vs. more than 6 months) and the initial state of advanced gastric cancer (resectable vs. unresectable and/or metastatic). To date, the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic gastrectomy after long-term palliative chemotherapy has been rarely reported. This video aims to share our experience in performing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection after 3 years of palliative chemotherapy for an unresectable advanced gastric cancer.