Is There Any Difference Between Eastern and Western Clinical Practice Guidelines in Management of Gastric Cancer? Publisher Pubmed

Summary: A review of gastric cancer guidelines reveals key regional treatment differences and shared practices. Could this diversity enhance patient care? #CancerCare #GastricCancer

Jalaeefar A¹ ; Mousavi SZ² ; Shirkhoda M¹ ; Mahmoodzadeh H² ; Mohammadzadeh N³ ; Sharifi A⁴
Source: Cancer Reports Published:2024

Abstract

Background and Recent findings: Gastric cancer (GC) has been known as one of the most common causes of cancer mortality both in Western and Eastern countries. However, there might be differences between how it is managed in different countries. Thus, we aimed to investigate these differences. Materials and Methods: The most well-known clinical guidelines in field of GC management including Korean GC Association (KGCA), Japanese GC Association (JGCA), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), and National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE) have been reviewed. Results: The contents of these guidelines were categorized under eight headings including (1) genetic predisposition, (2) prevention, (3) management of gastric polyp, atrophy, dysplasia and metaplasia, (4) diagnosis, (5) pathology and molecular biology, (6) treatment, (7) supportive and palliative care, and (8) follow up. Difference in each section was discussed. Conclusion: Considering KGCA and JGCA as Eastern and NCCN, ESMO, BSG, and NICE as Western guidelines, it is revealed that both sets of guidelines share common practices such as prioritizing comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, personalizing treatment plans, and palliative care. However, main differences can be seen in treatment regimens, the adoption of newer therapies like immunotherapy, and the utilization of emerging techniques such as HIPEC. These differences reflect the diverse clinical landscapes, research focuses, and healthcare systems within these regions. © 2024 The Authors. Cancer Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.