Postsurgical Antibiotic Therapy Decreases Metachronous Recurrences of Gastric Cancer. (8/4/2008)
Researchers from Japan have reported that antibiotic treatment of patients with gastric cancer decreases the rate of metachronous recurrences. The details of this randomized trial were published in the August 2008 issue of Lancet Oncology.

Removal of More Lymph Nodes May Improve Survival in Gastric and Pancreatic Cancers (8/4/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Cancer Programs, American College of Surgeons, recommend that at least 15 lymph nodes be removed and examined in patients with early gastric or pancreatic cancers. The results of this study were published in the July 2008 issue of the Archives of Surgery.

No Advantage to the Addition of Platinol® to Camptosar®/5-FU for Advanced Gastric Cancer (4/3/2008)
Researchers from Korea have reported that the addition of Platinol® (cisplatin) to Camptosar® (irinotecan), 5-FU, and leucovorin for the treatment of patients with gastric cancer offers no survival benefit. These findings were published in the April 2008 issue of the Annals of Oncology.

Chlorhexidine or Oral Cooling Decrease Chemotherapy-induced Mucositis (3/31/2008)
Researchers from Denmark have reported that chlorhexidine mouth washes or oral cooling decreases the incidence and severity of oral mucositis associated with 5 FU and leucovorin-based chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer. The details of this randomized study appeared in an early online publication in Cancer on February 15, 2008.

Combination of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Shows Promise for Gastric Cancer (3/28/2008)
Researchers from South Korea have reported that a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy may improve overall survival of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer undergoing curative surgery. The details of this randomized Phase III trial were published in the March, 2008 issue of the Annals of Oncology.