Incidence and survival rates of lymphoepithelioma-like gastric carcinoma: analysis of the Korea Central Cancer Registry Database

Background: Lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the stomach (LEGC) is a rare type of gastric carcinoma. There is a limited understanding of the incidence and survival rates of LEGC. The aim was to investigate the nationwide incidence and survival rates of LEGC in Korea using the Korea Central Cancer Registry. Methods: The data on LEGC were retrieved from the Korea Central Cancer Registry of Korean Cancer Center. The age and sex of the patients and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) summary stage of the tumor were analyzed, and the relative survival rates (RSRs) were calculated. The Korea Central Cancer Registry has data of patients with LEGC from 1993 to 2017 but is approved to use personal information only from 2006 to 2017 due to privacy restrictions of the institute. The RSRs, as calculated data, were able to be disclosed from 1993 to 2017. Results: Between 2006 and 2017, the total number of LEGC was 1,030, and the trend of incidence increased ty time (p =.002). In the SEER stage, the proportion of localized stage was 54.3% in 2006, and 73.9% in 2017, which increased from 2006 to 2017 significantly (p =.002). The RSR was higher in men than in women. The cumulative 5-year RSRs were 98.0% in the localized stage and 88.0% in the regional stage during 1993–2017. The 5-year RSRs increased 79.5% in 1996–2000 to 93.4% in 2013–2017. Conclusions: The incidence of LEGC is low, which has been increasing in recent years in South Korea. The prognosis of LEGC is good even at advanced stages and gets better as time goes by. Our findings provide useful insights to clinicians about LEGC and inform patients about the survival rate.