What does gastric carcinoma or AEG in metastatic or unresectable stages mean?

If a stomach or junctional tumor (AEG) can no longer be surgically removed or has already spread throughout the body, it is referred to as metastatic or irreducible.

The goal of treatment is then no longer cure, but rather control of tumor growth, relief of symptoms, and preservation of quality of life for as long as possible.
Patients often complain of loss of appetite, weight loss, pain, or nausea. The disease can be very stressful, both physically and emotionally.

Treatment options include modern chemotherapy regimens, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies for specific biological subtypes. Nutritional therapy and pain management are essential components of care.

In specific cases, our tumor board discusses a pre-treatment phase involving systemic therapies followed by surgery to remove the tumor and metastases. Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC are also utilized in these cases.

Although gastric cancer is rare in Switzerland, it can be serious depending on the stage. New combination therapies can now moderately prolong survival. For many patients, it is crucial to be cared for in an experienced tumor center/network where oncology, gastroenterology, surgery, radiation oncology, nutrition specialists, etc. work closely together.