80 stomach adenocarcinoma patients (T1-3, NO, MO) were enrolled into a prospectively randomized clinical study. 40 patients were perioperatively treated with D-galactose (treatment group: 1.9 g/kg BW and per day) or D-glucose-containing electrolyte infusions (control group: n = 40). Perioperative mortality was low (3.7%), complication rate was 11.2% (treatment group: 12.5%; control group: 10%). Since tumor staging and grading were similarly distributed for treatment and control groups, a non-stratified statistical analysis yielded a) significantly reduced hepatic metastases b) significantly improved overall survival for patients of the treatment group. A statistically significant effect on survival free of hepatic metastases and overall survival could be demonstrated for stage T3 patients of the verum group, as compared to patients of the control group.