Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-1096-8 (2019)

Reviewer’s report
Title: Indications for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with AJCC stage IIa T3N0M0 and T1N2M0
gastric cancer—an east and west multicenter study
Version: 0 Date: 13 Aug 2019
Reviewer: Yanqing Li
Reviewer's report:
This study used multicenter data from eastern and western datasets to explore that whether T3N0M0
and T1N2M0 gastric cancer patients need AC and what kind of patients will receive a benefit from AC.
This is a well-designed study which would provide useful information for doctors and patients. The
English expression  is  excellent.  We  recommend  "Accept  after  minor  essential  revisions" for  this
manuscript. We listed some minor comments below and hope these comments could help to improve
this manuscript.
1.This study listed several elimination criteria. It is better to also list the number of patients that
were excluded from the analysis of this study for each elimination criterion. These detailed information
could help the readers understand the real value of the results and the bias in this retrospective studies.
2.The patients are from very different periods for the three different database (SEER database
from  January  1988  to  December  2012,  FMUUH  from  October  2008  to  December  2014,  Italy
IMIGASTRIC Center from January 2000 to December 2014). Could this factor have some influence on
the results of this study?
3.In the IMIGASTRIC center data, no significant difference between high-benefit and low-benefit
patients was found. Is there any other reason for this except for the sample size?
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an additional
statistical review?
If  an  additional  statistical  review  is  recommended,  please  specify  what  aspects  require  further
assessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statistics
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Acceptable
Declaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this
manuscript, either now or in the future?
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financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the
manuscript?
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds
or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?
6. Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
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your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
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