Abstract
BACKGROUND: The effect of omentum preservation (OP) on locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the long-term prognosis of LAGC patients with OP versus omentum resection (OR). METHODS: A comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted up until February 2024. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 software. The primary outcome was to assess the impact of OP on the long-term prognosis of patients with LAGC, including overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: A total of six case-control studies were included, encompassing a cohort of 1897 patients. The OP group consisted of 844 patients, while the OR group comprised 1053 patients. The study results showed that the OS (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.58-0.90, P = 0.003) and 5-year RFS (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63-0.99, P = 0.038) in the OP group were superior to those observed in the OR group. Subgroup analysis indicated that 5-year OS (HR = 0.64, P = 0.003) and 5-year RFS (HR = 0.69, P = 0.005) in the OP group were also better than those in the OR group in Korea. However, the subgroup analysis conducted on stage T3-T4 tumors revealed no statistically significant differences in OS (P = 0.083) and 5-year RFS (P = 0.173) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with OR, OP shows non-inferiority in patients with LAGC and can be considered a potential treatment option for radical gastrectomy.