Adjuvant Chemotherapy Versus Adjuvant Chemoradiation (CRT) for Gastric Cancer: 16 Years of Local Experience

Review Data

Q: Is the topic relevant to the journal area of interest? Is it contemporary and interesting for

researchers?

A: Excellent

Abstract & Keywords

Q: Are all required components included in the abstract? Are the keywords appropriately chosen?

A: Very good

Goal

Q: Is the goal explicitly stated in the Introduction? Is its formulation clear and unambiguous?

A: Very good

Structure

Q: Is the paper's structure coherent? Is it in coherence with the goal of the paper?

A: Very good

Tools and Methods

Q: Are methods the author uses adequate and well used?

A: Good

Discussion & Conclusion

Q: Is it related to the results presented before? Do you consider them as coherent?

A: Good

Comments:

The Result thoroughly encompasses the survival and relapse, pattern of failure and toxicity in both the treatments and is aptly supported by figures and tables. An in-depth comparison of both adjuvant CRT and chemotherapy is well covered in the Discussion. The Conclusion is consistent with adjuvant XELOX being the choice for treatment as the survival as well as the toxicity profile appeared to be favouring XELOX for chemotherapy in gastric cancer.

Literature

Q: Does the author utilize relevant literature?

A: Very good

Author's knowledge

Q: What is the level of the author’s knowledge? Does the author utilize all recent contributions relevant to the topic?

A: Very good

Length

Q: Is the length of the paper adequate to the significance of the topic? Do you suggest shortening the paper without losing its value?

A: Good

Figures & Tables

Q: Does the author use them suitably? Are legend and notations clear?

A: Very good

Writing style

Q: Is it clear and understandable?

A: Good

Further comments on the paper

Comments: Gastric cancer is the sixth most common cancer in Hong Kong and there is no universal consensus established for the choice of adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer. This retrospective study significantly aimed to compare treatment outcomes and toxicities of adjuvant capecitabine-oxaliplatin (XELOX) with adjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) in 120 patients with resected gastric cancer. Some of the limitations of this study include the heterogeneity of the operative record due to which the exact extent of lymphadenectomy was not specified up to 42% of the patients and this resulted in the hindrance of data interpretation. Also, the follow-up period for the two cohorts was different and there was no unified protocol for imaging surveillance.

Q: Would you recommend this manuscript for further publication?

A: Yes - Suitable to be published

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