Nonsurgical palliation — A variety of nonsurgical measures have been evaluated for palliation of obstructive symptoms or uncontrolled bleeding, which may be acute or chronic. Medical therapies such as antacids and H2-antagonists are often of little benefit.Endoscopic stent placement — For palliation of obstructive symptoms, endoscopic placement of a stent provides a less invasive alternative to surgery for symptom palliation and may possibly be more effective in symptom relief. Published experience with enteral stenting for gastroduodenal obstruction is derived mostly from case series and small comparative trials. The available data suggest that enteral stenting has a similar success rate as surgical palliation (with approximately 90 percent of patients improving clinically) but is associated with less morbidity, procedure-related mortality, and cost. Furthermore, stenting may achieve a better quality of life compared with other forms of palliation (such as non-oral feeding through a jejunostomy tube), although they have not been directly compared in controlled trials.In a review of two randomized trials of endoscopic stenting versus palliative gastrojejunostomy, six comparative studies, and 36 retrospective series, there were no statistically significant differences between the two procedures in terms of efficacy or complications [ 16 ]. However, stenting was associated with a trend toward shorter hospital stay, a higher clinical success rate and a faster relief of obstructive symptoms [ 16 ]. Patients who received stents did require reintervention more frequently than did surgically-treated patients.This subject is addressed in further detail elsewhere. (See "Enteral stents for the palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction" .)Radiation therapy — External beam radiation therapy (RT) has a well-defined role in the control of pain, bleeding, or obstruction in patients with localized but unresectable gastric cancer [ 17 ]. A retrospective review of 37 patients with gastric cancer treated with palliative RT (median dose, 35 Gy) revealed that rates of control of bleeding, dysphagia/obstruction, and pain were 70, 81, and 86 percent, respectively [ 18 ]. Patients who received chemotherapy in addition to RT had a trend towards improved median overall survival (6.7 versus 2.4 months, p = 0.08), although the possibility of selection bias cannot be excluded. Local control was inferior at radiation doses of less than 41 Gy.Two other studies evaluating palliative chemoradiotherapy have also demonstrated durable palliation of dysphagia [ 19,20 ].There are no controlled studies that directly compare RT or chemoradiotherapy with endoscopic or surgical techniques for symptomatic palliation. However, responses to RT are not as immediate as with stenting or surgical palliation. Furthermore, while control of bleeding may be possible with low RT doses that are not associated with significant side effects [ 21,22 ], doses above 40 Gy (which may be associated with significant adverse effects) are often required for palliation of obstruction.Endoscopic laser therapy — Endoscopic laser treatment can effectively palliate dysphagia due to obstruction in 75 to 93 percent of patients with esophageal or gastric cardia tumors ( figure 1 ) [ 23-25 ]. (See "Endoscopic palliation of esophageal cancer" .)A variety of endoscopic procedures have been used for the control of tumor-induced hemorrhage; there are no controlled studies to compare their relative efficacy. Laser photocoagulation can be effective, particularly for large tumors with diffuse bleeding, although the equipment is expensive and not widely available [ 26,27 ]. An alternative that is being used increasingly is argon plasma coagulation. (See "Argon plasma coagulation in the management of gastrointestinal hemorrhage" .)SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONSThe majority of patients with gastric cancer will require palliative treatment at some point in the course of their disease. (See 'Introduction' above.)Cytotoxic chemotherapy is the most effective treatment modality for metastatic disease, but may be inadequate for palliation of local symptoms such nausea, pain, obstruction, perforation, or bleeding from a locally advanced or locally recurrent primary tumor. Many patients require multidisciplinary management using endoscopic, surgical, radiotherapeutic or other approaches. (See 'Therapeutic options for local palliation' above.)
Although effective, palliative resection for patients with metastatic gastric cancer is only rarely performed and reserved for extreme cases where less invasive methods cannot be used. (See 'Palliative resection' above.)
For patients with obstructive symptoms, we recommend endoscopic placement of a stent or external beam radiation therapy (RT) rather than palliative surgery ( Grade 1B ). Endoscopic stenting has a similar success rate as surgical palliation (with approximately 90 percent of patients improving clinically) but is associated with less morbidity, procedure-related mortality, and cost. (See 'Endoscopic stent placement' above.)
RT can control pain, bleeding, and obstruction in patients with localized but unresectable gastric cancer, but responses may be delayed. Furthermore, while control of bleeding may be possible with low RT doses that are not associated with significant side effects, doses above 40 Gy are often required for palliation of obstruction. (See 'Radiation therapy' above.)
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