OBJECTIVES: To examine the patient characteristics, comorbidities, and medication usage of subjects diagnosed with mGC.  METHODS:   Subjects in the Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounter Database (July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2008) were included for analysis if they received a diagnosis of mestastasis based on ICD-9 codes on or after the first occurrence of GC, had no claims for other secondary metastases in the 6 months prior to the initial mGC claim, and had continuous insurance coverage from 6 months prior through at least one month post the initial diagnoses of mGC.  Healthcare costs and resource utilization (HRU) are described from the date of initial mGC diagnosis through end of data collection due to patient drop out or end of the data collection period (e.g. post-period).  Study data are shown as summary (or descriptive) statistics.  RESULTS:  A total of 2058 subjects with mGC were included in the analysis.  At mGC diagnosis, the median age was 58 years (25th /75th percentile: 31 and 62 years respectively) and 60% were male.   The mean length of follow-up after mGC was 2.6 years (SD: 1.3 years).  The most common comorbidities at the time of mGC diagnosis were cardiovascular disease (48%), hypertension (29%), and diabetes (16%).   Sixty-five percent of mGC subjects received outpatient chemotherapy in the post-period.  Mean monthly medical costs were $5080 in the post-period, which consisted of 46% inpatient costs, 40% outpatient costs, and 14% outpatient chemotherapy costs.  CONCLUSIONS:   One-third of mGC patients were not treated with outpatient oncolytics.  Outpatient chemotherapy costs constituted a small portion of the total cost of mGC.