J Gastric Cancer.  2016 Sep;16(3):182-190. 10.5230/jgc.2016.16.3.182.

The Korean Gastric Cancer Cohort Study: Study Protocol and Brief Results of a Large-Scale Prospective Cohort Study

• Eom BW
• Kim YW
• Nam BH
• Ryu KW
• Jeong HY
• Park YK
• Lee YJ
• Yang HK
• Yu W
• Yook JH
• Song GA
• Youn SJ
• Kim HU
• Noh SH
• Park SB
• Yang DH
• Kim S

• KMID: 2372562
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5230/jgc.2016.16.3.182

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to establish a large-scale database of patients with gastric cancer to facilitate the development of a national-cancer management system and a comprehensive cancer control policy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An observational prospective cohort study on gastric cancer was initiated in 2010. A total of 14 cancer centers throughout the country and 152 researchers were involved in this study. Patient enrollment began in January 2011, and data regarding clinicopathological characteristics, life style-related factors, quality of life, as well as diet diaries were collected.
RESULTS
In total, 4,963 patients were enrolled until December 2014, and approximately 5% of all Korean patients with gastric cancer annually were included. The mean age was 58.2±11.5 years, and 68.2% were men. The number of patients in each stage was as follows: 3,394 patients (68.4%) were in stage IA/B; 514 patients (10.4%), in stage IIA/B; 469 patients (9.5%), in stage IIIA/B/C; and 127 patients (2.6%), in stage IV. Surgical treatment was performed in 3,958 patients (79.8%), endoscopic resection was performed in 700 patients (14.1%), and 167 patients (3.4%) received palliative chemotherapy. The response rate for the questionnaire on the quality of life was 95%; however, diet diaries were only collected for 27% of patients.
CONCLUSIONS
To provide comprehensive information on gastric cancer for patients, physicians, and government officials, a large-scale database of Korean patients with gastric cancer was established. Based on the findings of this cohort study, an effective cancer management system and national cancer control policy could be developed.

Keyword

Stomach neoplasms; Cohort studies; Korea; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Cohort Studies*
Diet
Drug Therapy
Humans
Korea
Male
Occupational Groups
Prospective Studies*
Quality of Life
Stomach Neoplasms*

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