Chemotherapy in metastatic gastric cancer: population-based perceptions and practice patterns of medical oncologists

Although randomised trials in metastatic gastric cancer have shown a survival benefit from chemotherapy, a significant proportion of medical oncologists do not believe that it prolongs survival or improves quality of life, including those who routinely treat metastatic gastric cancer. There was wide variation in what was considered to be ‘standard therapy’ and a statistically significant difference between what medical oncologists consider ‘standard therapy’ and what they use in every day practice.