Table 1.
Baseline and clinical characteristics in 163 patients
| Variable | N | (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Age: median (years), range | 69 | (23–89) |
| Gender: female/male | 68/95 | (42%/58%) |
| Primary tumour | ||
| Upper GI | 38 | (23%) |
| Oesophagus | 10 | (6%) |
| Gastrooesophageal junction (GEJ) | 15 | (9%) |
| Stomach | 13 | (8%) |
| Pancreas | 28 | (18%) |
| Pancreas | 28 | (18%) |
| Lower GI | 64 | (39%) |
| Small intestine | 3 | (2%) |
| Colorectal | 61 | (37%) |
| Cancer unknown primary (CUP) (predominantly with abdominal metastases) | 33 | (20%) |
| Extension of disease: | ||
| Localised | 15 | (9%) |
| Regional | 36 | (22%) |
| Disseminated | 112 | (69%) |
| WHO Performance Status | 147 | (90%) |
| 0 | 61 | (41%) |
| 1 | 48 | (33%) |
| 2 | 22 | (15%) |
| > 2 | 16 | (11%) |
| Treatment | 142 | (87%) |
| Surgery | 71 | (44%) |
| Primary tumour | 61 | (86%) |
| Metastasis | 19 | (27%) |
| Operation at diagnosis | 56 | (79%) |
| Curative intent | 53 | (75%) |
| Chemotherapy | 119 | (73%) |
| Neoadjuvant chemotherapy | 14 | (12%) |
| Adjuvant chemotherapy | 28 | (24%) |
| Palliative chemotherapy | 103 | (87%) |
| Radiotherapya | 46 | (28%) |
| Primary tumour | 6 | (13%) |
| Metastasis | 41 | (89%) |
| PRRT | 2 | (1%) |
| Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum level | 143 | (88%) |
| Normal | 67 | (47%) |
| < 2 UNLb | 52 | (36%) |
| > 2 UNL | 24 | (17%) |
| Chromogranin A (CgA), plasma level | 112 | (69%) |
| Normal | 61 | (55%) |
| < 2 UNL | 20 | (18%) |
| > 2 UNL | 31 | (28%) |
a One patient was treated with radiotherapy for both the primary tumour and the metastases b UNL = upper normal limit of the reference value