IS RADIATION THERAPY STILL USED IN THE TREATMENT OF GASTRIC CANCER?

Katarzyna Kulszo; Karolina Klusek; Krzysztof Mirkowski; Magda Kowaleczko; Maciej Wiśniecki; Dawid Żuraw; Natalia Bogumiłło; Zofia Kulszo; Piotr Bijak; Martyna Rynkowska; Bartłomiej Baszun; Magdalena Kijowska

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6325

Authors

Katarzyna Kulszo Student Research Group at The Department of Radiotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland; Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8573-9714
Karolina Klusek Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7006-0188
Krzysztof Mirkowski University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6976-0810
Magda Kowaleczko University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6055-0141
Maciej Wiśniecki Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1152-2835
Dawid Żuraw University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3160-5659
Natalia Bogumiłło University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7567-2242
Zofia Kulszo Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8191-0004
Piotr Bijak Student Research Group at The Department of Radiotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7107-6914
Martyna Rynkowska Student Research Group at The Department of Radiotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8976-2318
Bartłomiej Baszun Student Research Group at The Department of Radiotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland; University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1694-4268
Magdalena Kijowska Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1086-7086

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6325

Keywords:

Gastric Cancer, Radiotherapy, Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant Radiotherapy, Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy, Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

Abstract

Gastric cancer is one of the most prominent global health challenges. Despite recent declines in incidence and mortality, this cancer remains the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The treatment of gastric cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, the choice of which depends on the stage of the disease and the patient’s overall condition. The mainstay of treatment is surgical resection with D2 lymphadenectomy and adjuvant or neoadjuvant radio- and chemotherapy. Currently, radiation therapy is widely used in several critical areas of gastric cancer treatment.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the current use and effectiveness of radiotherapy in the treatment of gastric cancer, as well as the prospects for the further development of this therapeutic method.

Material and methods: This study is based on a systematic review of several dozen scientific publications identified through PubMed and Google Schoolar databases using keywords “gastric cancer”, “radiotherapy”, “chemoradiotherapy”.

Conclusions: In clinical practice, radiotherapy is primarily used as an adjuvant treatment. In perioperative therapy, it is combined with chemotherapy before surgery to reduce tumor size and after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence and the development of micrometastases. Additionally, it is used as a palliative treatment for patients with advanced-stage disease who are not eligible for surgery. Emerging evidence also suggests potential benefits of incorporating radiotherapy into the management of patients with limited metastatic disease.

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