A case of recurrent gastric cancer that responded dramatically to docetaxel and 5'-DFUR combination chemotherapy

A 54-year-old man suffering from Borrmann type 4 advanced gastric cancer with pancreatic invasion and paraaortic lymph node metastases underwent a total gastrectomy, which was a radical C operation. From postoperative month 4, he visited our hospital with multiple liver metastases and increased lymph node metastases. After chemotherapy with CDDP and 5-FU, CDDP and UFT was administered on an outpatient basis. The effect of this therapy was PD, therefore, docetaxel and 5'-DFUR combination chemotherapy was performed as second line therapy. After 2 courses of this therapy, the size of liver and lymph node metastases was reduced and the effect of this therapy was PR. The patient has undergone 4 courses of this therapy and is maintaining a clinical PR. It is conceivable that docetaxel and 5'-DFUR combination chemotherapy is useful for patients with advanced and recurrent gastric cancer, even if they had been treated with 5-FU administration as first line therapy.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer responding to combination chemotherapy with low-dose 5-FU plus CDDP

A 56-year-old man presented with dysphagia, and was found to have a type 3 advanced gastric cancer with bilateral multiple lung metastases. This patient was treated with low-dose 5-FU plus CDDP chemotherapy. In the first course, CDDP (6 mg/m2/day) plus 5-FU (300 mg/m2/day) were infused for 5 successive days a week, but a tumor response was not achieved. Therefore, in the second course, CDDP (6 mg/m2/day) plus 5-FU (600 mg/m2/day) were infused every other day (3 days a week). In response to the treatment, both the gastric tumor and the lung metastases almost completely disappeared (reduction rate 95%), and PR was achieved. The CEA level markedly decreased, from 260.3 to 1.4 ng/ml and the patient's symptoms disappeared. Following this treatment, low-dose CDDP plus UFT therapy was performed and the PR was maintained for 12 months. This report shows a case of advanced gastric cancer that responded to low-dose 5-FU plus CDDP.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis that responded to paclitaxel plus 5-FU therapy

We report a case in which paclitaxel (PTX) plus 5-FU therapy was remarkably effective for advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. The patient was a 41-year-old woman who had type 4 gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. PTX plus 5-FU therapy was performed. The regimen included 600 mg/body/day of 5-FU by continuous iv administration from day 1 to 5 and consequent administration of PTX (90 mg/body) on days 8, 15 and 22 for 28 days repetitively. After 4 courses were completed, abdominal CT revealed that ascites had disappeared and the stomach wall had become thinner. Thus,we considered the patient had a partial response, and performed total gastrectomy. After the operation, PTX plus 5-FU therapy was used for 8 courses with the same regimen. No serious adverse event was observed,and the patient maintained good QOL throughout the treatment. No sign of progressive disease was seen for 12 months after the operation. However, 18 months after beginning the treatment, peritoneal metastasis became worse, and she died 19 months after treatment had begun. Considering the effectiveness and mild toxicity, PTX plus 5-FU therapy is thought to be useful for advanced gastric cancer.     

A case of rectal cancer with multiple liver and peritoneal metastases that responded dramatically to low-dose 5-FU plus LV and CDDP combination chemotherapy

We have experienced successful treatment of a multiple hepatic metastasis of rectal cancer with combination chemotherapy. The patient is a 57-year-old male with bowel obstruction accompanied by rectal cancer (SE, N3, P1, H3, M (-) stage IV) who underwent a Hartmann operation with D3 lymph node dissection on July 6, 2000. The histopathological findings revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (se, INFbeta, n3, ly2, v2, p1). From the 11th postoperative day, combination chemotherapy using 5-FU 750 mg/day and LV 300 mg/day was performed once a week. When he underwent 5 combination chemotherapy treatments, adverse effects of grade 3 occurred, and the serum CEA level rose rapidly. We changed his regimen at that time. He underwent 2 courses of combination chemotherapy with 5-FU 500 mg/day and CDDP 10 mg/day for 5 days. Additional courses of combination chemotherapy with 5-FU 500 mg/day, LV 25 mg/day and CDDP 10 mg/day were performed weekly in the outpatient department. The treatment was effective, and a complete response (CR) was noted 4 months after the chemotherapy. The same combination chemotherapy was performed biweekly for one year after CR. The patient has been receiving a subsequent single administration of UFT and has remained in remission for 3 years and 7 months after surgery.     

A case of parotid carcinoma with hepatic metastasis that responded remarkably to combination chemotherapy of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil

A patient who had parotid gland carcinoma with hepatic metastasis (T4N2bM1) underwent 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil (TPF). After this treatment, the patient showed a PR in the primary site and a CR in the hepatic metastasis. Left total parotidectomy and modified radical neck dissection were then performed followed by postoperative irradiation of 40 Gy. No recurrence in the primary site or the neck was seen, but in the metastatic site a recurrence was observed at 8 weeks after the first chemotherapy. The same chemotherapy is now applied in an outpatient setting. Toxicities with neutropenia, nausea and vomiting of CTC Grade 3 were observed, but these toxicities were mild and manageable. TPF is considered to show clinical activity for advanced parotid gland carcinoma, and we consider further investigation necessary.     

A case of gastric cancer with liver metastasis responding to low-dose CDDP/5-FU combination chemotherapy

We reported a case of a 62-year-old female with gastric cancer accompanied by liver, Virchow and paraaortic lymph nodes, and bone metastasis (taken low-dose cisplatin (CDDP)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combination chemotherapy). CDDP (10 mg/body/day) was injected on 1-5 days i.v. and 5-FU (500 mg/body/day) was injected i.v. continuously on 1-7 days. This treatment cycle was repeated for 4 weeks. After 4 cycles, liver metastasis disappeared without severe side effects. Primary lesion and Virchow's lymph nodes metastasis were reduced. However, bone and paraaortic lymph node metastasis showed no response. It was considered that low-dose CDDP/5-FU combination chemotherapy was effective for liver and lymph nodes metastasis of gastric cancer in this case.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer showing pathological CR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 combination

A 69-year-old man suffering from heart-burn was referred to our hospital, and diagnosed as type 3 advanced gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 was attempted. After two courses of chemotherapy were completed, distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy was performed. Pathologically, there were no viable cancer cells remaining in the primary lesion and lymph nodes. The pathological response of NAC was judged to be grade 3. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is currently visiting our outpatient clinic for treatment with S-1 as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Highly advanced gastric cancer that responded to neoadjuvant combination chemotherapy with docetaxel/CDDP/S-1 (DCS)

A 60-year-old male was found to have advanced gastric cancer and multiple lymph node metastases. Since curative surgery was concluded to be unfeasible, we tried neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the aim of controlling the lymph node metastasis. S-1 (80 mg/m2) was administered orally for two weeks then followed by 2-week rest period. CDDP (60 mg/ m2) and docetaxel (40 mg/m2) were simultaneously administered on day 1. Two courses of treatment resulted in marked shrinkage of the primary lesion and a reduction in size of the lymph nodes. The results were evaluated as a clinical PR based on RECIST, and radical resection was considered possible. The patient experienced a grade 3 leukocytopenia and neutropenia as adverse events of the chemotherapy. Total gastrectomy, splenectomy, and D2 lymph node dissection were performed with curative intent, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Histological examination of the surgical specimens revealed almost complete disappearance of cancer cells in the primary lesion in the stomach and complete disappearance in the lymph nodes. Pathological efficacy was Grade 2. The patient experienced a grade 3 appetite loss, and the adjuvant chemotherapy (S-1 regimen) was discontinued. The patient died of peritoneal dissemination eight months after the operation. We concluded that DCS as neoadjuvant chemotherapy was a promising strategy for patients with highly advanced gastric cancer because of its rapid antitumor effect.     

A case of AFP-producing gastric cancer responding to low-dose CPT-11 and low-dose cisplatin combination chemotherapy

Gastric cancers that produce alpha feto protein (AFP) usually have a poor prognosis. We report an AFP-producing gastric cancer that showed a partial response to low-dose CPT-11 and low-dose cisplatin combination chemotherapy. AFP-producing gastric cancers successfully treated with chemotherapy have been reported, but to our knowledge this is the first report of successful treatment with low-dose CPT-11 and low-dose cisplatin combination chemotherapy. Case: A 49 year-old woman who had gastric cardiac cancer with esophageal invasion was admitted to our institution. Since AFP-positive cells were demonstrated immunohistochemically in biopsy specimens and levels of AFP in serum were high, AFP-producing cancer was diagnosed. Because of metastasis to Virchow's node and the paraaortic lymph nodes, the tumor was considered unresectable. The patient's poor general condition necessitated chemotherapy with low toxicity and high efficacy. She was treated with low-dose CPT-11 and low-dose cisplatin combination chemotherapy. After two cycles of this treatment, the tumor volume and the serum levels of AFP had decreased markedly. The only side effect of the treatment was leukopenia.     

A case of advanced breast cancer that responded remarkably to chemotherapy

The case of a 49-year-old woman with axillary lymph nodes, multiple bone and multiple lung metastases from advanced breast cancer is reported. The patient responded remarkably to combination chemo- and endocrine-therapy. This patient was discharged after receiving 2 cycles of cyclophosphamide, pirarubicin and 5'-DFUR, while continuing to receive daily oral doses of 5'-DFUR and MPA. The patient experienced few adverse effects during chemotherapy. The patient enjoys an improved quality of life. This combined regimen has been confirmed to be an effective treatment for patients in advanced stages of breast cancer.     

周剂量多西紫杉醇联合低剂量DDP和5-FU治疗晚期胃癌50例临床观察

研究周剂量多西紫杉醇联合低剂量顺铂、5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)治疗晚期胃癌的近期疗效和毒副反应.Ⅳ期胃癌患者50例,应用多西紫杉醇40 mg,静脉滴入1 h,d1,d8,d15;顺铂20 mg静脉滴入,d1～d5;醛氢叶酸(CF) 200 mg在5-FU前静脉滴入,5-FU 500 mg静脉滴入,d1～d5.以上方案每4周为1个周期,2个周期后评价疗效.全组50例患者,有效率64.0%(32/50),病情稳定率24.0%(12/50),其中PR 32例,SD 12例,PD 6例,无CR病例,中位生存时间10.2个月.Ⅰ～Ⅱ度的中性粒细胞减少发生率为76.0%(38/50), Ⅲ度中性粒细胞减少发生率为6.0%(3/50),无Ⅳ度中性粒细胞减少发生.非血液学毒性发生率较低且较轻微.周剂量多西紫杉醇联合低剂量顺铂、氟尿嘧啶治疗晚期胃癌近期效果显著,毒副反应较小,可以应用于晚期胃癌的治疗.     

Chemoradiotherapy with low-dose cisplatin and 5-FU for advanced esophageal cancer

We evaluated the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for advanced esophageal cancer, from the view point of response. The relationship between chemo-radiosensitivity and dihydropyridine dehydrogenase (DPD), thymidylate synthase (TS), and p53 was investigated immunohistochemically. Thirteen patients with inoperable advanced esophageal cancer were involved in this study. CDDP of 10 mg/m2/day and 5-FU of 335 mg/m2/day were infused intravenously (day 1-5, day 15-19). Radiation was delivered concomitantly at a total dose of 30 Gy. Expressions of p53, DPD and TS were detected using immunohistology in the biopsy samples taken before CRT from 8 patients. Partial response was observed in 8 cases, no change in 4 cases, and progressive disease in one case. The overall response rate was 62%. The reduction rate was higher in tumors positive for p53 expression than in negative ones. The same was true for DPD and TS. The Treatment effect was more precisely predicted by combination of p53, DPD and TS. CRT with low-dose CDDP + 5-FU chemotherapy was effective and combination with p53, DPD, and TS might be a predictive marker for CRT in patients with advanced esophageal cancer.     

A successful resected case of advanced esophageal cancer with early gastric cancer responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU

A 72-year-old male with a chief complaint of dysphagia was admitted to our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination showed double cancers with thoracic esophageal cancer in the middle esophagus and gastric cancer in the antrum. Pathological examinations of the double cancer revealed the first one to be moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and the second to be well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen showed no distant or lymph node metastases. Clinical stagings of the double cancer were stage II (T2N0M0)in esophageal cancer and stage I A (T1N0M0) in gastric cancer. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy using docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, the adverse event was grade 2 in leucopenia and grade 2 in alopecia. Repeated macroscopic and histological examinations after chemotherapy revealed that the esophageal cancer had significant reductions in the size of tumors, leading to a partial response, and the gastric cancer had disappeared, leading to a complete response. He underwent thoracoscopy-assisted esophagectomy in the prone position, and laparoscopy-assisted gastric tube reconstruction. This neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU might be effective and tolerable as with patients with double cancer of esophageal and gastric cancers.     

多西他赛联合顺铂和氟尿嘧啶治疗晚期胃癌疗效观察

目的观察多西他赛联合顺铂、氟尿嘧啶(DCF方案)治疗晚期胃癌的疗效和不良反应。方法采用DCF方案治疗33例晚期胃癌患者。多西他赛75 mg/m2,d1;顺铂75 mg/m2,d1;氟尿嘧啶750 mg/m2,持续静脉滴注,d1~5,3周1个周期,至少2个周期。结果33例晚期胃癌中,完全缓解(CR)0例,部分缓解(PR)18例(54.5%),稳定(SD)8例(24.2%),进展(PD)7例(21.2%)。中位肿瘤进展时间为6.1个月(3.5~11.5个月),中位总生存期为11.2个月(6.0~14.5个月)。最常见的不良反应为骨髓抑制、消化道反应及可逆性体液潴留,不良反应多为Ⅰ~Ⅱ度,无Ⅳ度不良反应发生。骨髓抑制以白细胞减少为特点,血小板减少及贫血较轻。消化道反应主要表现为恶心呕吐、腹泻、便秘,无Ⅳ度腹泻发生。无治疗相关性死亡。结论DCF方案是治疗晚期胃癌安全有效的化疗方案。     

A case of advanced esophageal cancer with liver metastases: efficacy of combination therapy of docetaxel/cisplatin/5-FU

The combination chemotherapy with docetaxel/CDDP/5-FU(DCF)for head and neck squamous carcinoma(SCC) has been widely accepted. It seems quite natural that DCF therapy is expected to be equally effective against esophageal SCC because of their histological similarity. In this report, we present a case of unresectable advanced esophageal SCC with multiple liver metastases which showed remarkable regression by DCF therapy, with relatively slight adverse effects. The patient was a 46-year-old female, who underwent upper gastrointestinal fiber-optic endoscopy for dysphasia and was diagnosed to have upper middle thoracic esophageal SCC. Abdominal CT scan showed multiple liver metastases with para-aortic lymph node involvement. The clinical stage diagnosis was T3N4M1, Stage IVB, obviously non-resectable far-advanced esophageal SCC. Systemic chemotherapy with DCF was started as the initial treatment. The chemotherapy regimen was as follows. 5-FU 500 mg/m(2) was administered as continuous intravenous infusion through day 1 to 5, while docetaxl 60 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) were given intravenously on day 2. Each course was followed by a 23-day drug-free period, and the entire course was repeated every 28 days. Ten cycles of this DCF chemotherapy were carried out. After 4 cycles, primary lesion was judged as complete response(CR)by endoscopy. After 8 cycles, the liver metastases were judged as CR and para-aortic lymph nodes showed a partial response(PR)by CT scan. After 10 cycles, all we could detect was a small local recurrence of the primary tumor, which was then treated with chemoradiotherapy at the outpatient clinic. Until this writing, we added 2 more cycles of DCF therapy for the recurrent para-aortic and inguinal lymph node metastasis. Three years have passed from her first visit, and the patient is still in a stable disease state. The adverse effects were grade 3 at most in both hematological and non-hematological toxicity. We conclude that DCF therapy is potentially very effective for advanced esophageal SCC.     

A case of oropharyngeal cancer with multiple bone metastases from prostate cancer that responded to docetaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin combination therapy

We encountered an oropharyngeal cancer patient with multiple bone metastases from prostate cancer who achieved a partial response to 3 cycles of combination chemotherapy including docetaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin (DIP). A 72-year-old man was found to have advanced oropharyngeal cancer during hormonal treatment of bone metastases from prostate cancer. Combination chemotherapy was initiated with DIP. After chemotherapy, computed tomography revealed no residual tumor at the oropharyngeal region, but a small ulcer was seen at the base of the tongue by laryngopharyngoscopy. The patient obtained a partial response after 3 cycles of this regimen. During chemotherapy the patient could take oral meals because of no stomatitis. After chemotherapy the patient received radiation therapy (60 Gy/30 f). The oropharyngeal cancer disappeared completely after radiotherapy. It is suggested that combination chemotherapy with DIP is a potential new treatment modality for advanced head and neck cancer.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with liver metastasis completely responding to CPT-11+low-dose 5-FU+CDDP chemotherapy

The case was a 54-year-old man with type-3 gastric cancer in the cardia accompanied by multiple liver metastasis. He received combination chemotherapy consisting of CPT-11 (60 mg/body, day 1 and 8)+low-dose 5-FU and CDDP (5-FU 500 mg/body/day and CDDP 5 mg/body/day, day 1-5 and 8-12, continuous infusion) every 3 weeks. The initial 2 courses were administered on an inpatient basis,and further courses as an outpatient. After 7 courses of therapy without severe adverse events, not only primary lesion but also hepatic metastasis disappeared. He has been free from disease for 4 months, and chemotherapy was further continued with TS-1 (100 mg/body, day 1-14)+CPT-11 60 mg/body, day 1, 8), every 3 weeks. CPT-11 in combination with low-dose 5-FU+CDDP can be one of the most effective regimens for unresectable advanced gastric cancer.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with Virchow's and paraaortic lymph node metastases successfully resected after combined chemotherapy of low-dose CDDP and 5-FU

The patient was a 61-year-old woman who had Stage IV advanced gastric cancer with Virchow's and paraaortic lymph node metastases. The lesions were considered surgically incurable, so she was placed on neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of low-dose CDDP and 5-FU. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, the tumor had decreased remarkably in size and Virchow's metastasis had disappeared. She was considered to have a partial response (PR) and underwent distal gastrectomy. Histopathological examination of the primary tumor revealed that almost all cancer cells existed in the mucosal and submucosal layers; few had infiltrated the serosa. A few paraaortic lymph nodes were positive for metastasis, but a curative resection (Cur B) was performed. The patient received another course of chemotherapy after the operation. Low-dose CDDP and 5-FU therapy was associated with few adverse events in this case, and thought to be effective against advanced gastric cancer.     

A pilot study of low-dose TS-1 and cisplatin combination chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer]

TS-1, a novel oral formation of 5-fluorouracil, consists of tegafur (5-FU), CDHP and Oxo. Low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) and TS-1 was evaluated in 12 patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. CDDP was given biweekly at a dose of 15 mg/m2 infused for 30 minutes, and 80 mg/body of TS-1 was orally administered as many times as possible. The response rate was 41.7%. Median survival time was 13.3 months. In one case, an adverse reaction of grade 3 leucopenia was observed. Thus, thought it is necessary to watch for leucopenia, this chemotherapy could well be effective for patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.     

A case report of unresectable gastric cancer that responded to 5-FU plus paclitaxel (FT) therapy

We report a case of a 63-year-old man who has been treated by FT therapy (5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus paclitaxel therapy). The regimen includes 600 mg/m2/day of 5-FU by continuous i.v. administration from day 1 to 5 and consequent administration of paclitaxel (90 mg/m2/day) on days 8, 15, and 22 for 28 days repetitively. Before the therapy was started, that occurred were obstructive jaundice, ascites, and poor performance status due to gastric cancer were observed. After percutaneous transhepatic drainage was performed, the patient was started on the above-mentioned regimen even before full recovery from the hepatic dysfunction. As the treatment proceeded, he showed good response (ascites disappeared and the size of swollen perigastric lymph node was reduced, which were confirmed as a partial response by sequential CT examination) to the therapy and his QOL and PS also improved. He has continued to receive this regimen for over 1 year and 4 months without any sign of progressive disease by CT examination. No adverse event greater than grade 1 by the NCI-CTC criteria was seen, except for alopecia (grade 2). Considering the favorable response and mild toxicity, this regimen is useful even for the patients with poor performance status and severe hepatic dysfunction.