Optimal Timing for Gastric Cancer Surgery Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Stomach cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death globally, impacting around one million people annually. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) has been introduced to improve survival rates for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). Methods: In adherence to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review concentrated solely on full-text articles that were published in English between the years 2014 and 2024. Result: The study involved an extensive review of more than 400 articles gathered from reputable databases such as ScienceDirect, SagePub, and PubMed. After an initial screening process, eight publications were deemed suitable for a more detailed examination. Conclusion: The study found that a 4-6 week time to surgery (TTS) improves overall survival in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, but does not significantly enhance disease-free survival. Longer intervals lead to higher pCR, better prognosis, and better recurrence-free survival. However, further research is needed to understand how TTS influences surgical outcomes and complication rates.