Objectives Palliative self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) insertion is common in patients not suitable for resection of oesophagogastric (OG) cancer. Factors which may determine survival, however, are not clear. The present study examined the relationship between tumour and host factors, including the systemic inflammatory response and survival of patients undergoing palliative SEMS insertion.

Methods Patients with a diagnosis of OG cancer who were considered suitable for palliative SEMS only without systemic therapy were identified. Patient characteristics including Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, radiological stage and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS: 0—C-reactive protein (CRP) ≤10 mg/L; 1—CRP >10 mg/L; 2—CRP >10 mg/L; albumin <35 g/L) were recorded prospectively. The relationship between such characteristics and 3-month survival was examined.

Results 203 patients were included in the final analysis. All patients died during follow-up, with median survival from diagnosis 75 days (IQR 47–157). 78% of patients were systemically inflamed (mGPS >1). On multivariate analysis, only poor performance status (HR 1.23, p=0.025), metastatic disease (HR 2.27, p<0.001) and mGPS (HR 1.25, p=0.021) were associated with shorter survival. The combination of performance status and mGPS stratified 3-month survival of patients without metastatic disease from 88% to 20% (p<0.001) and patients with metastases from 43% to 6% (p=0.059). Similar results were observed when analysis was restricted to patients with oesophageal and junctional cancer (M0: 83%–20%, p=0.008; M1: 33%–8%, p=0.082).

Conclusion Performance status, metastatic disease and mGPS are independent predictors of survival in patients with OG cancer undergoing palliative SEMS insertion. These routinely available markers provide a rational system on which to base decisions regarding prognosis and treatment.