A case of unresectable advanced gastric cancer successfully treated with chemotherapy after gastrojejunostomy

We report a patient with unresectable advanced gastric cancer who was successfully treated with chemotherapy after gastrojejunostomy. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of appetite loss and body weight loss. Abdominal enhanced CT revealed a gastric wall thickening and swelling of lymph nodes in the lesser curvature. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a gastric cancer in the antrum of the stomach. He underwent laparotomy, which revealed a T4 tumor invading the pancreas. Gastrojejunostomy was performed. After the operation, intake therapy of 80-100 mg S-1 was started for four weeks followed by two weeks rest as one course. After 2 courses of the therapy, abdominal enhanced CT showed a partial response of the lymph nodes. He is alive for 19 months after the operation. Abdominal enhanced CT showed a stable disease. This case suggested that S-1 chemotherapy after gastrojejunostomy was effective for unresectable advanced gastric cancer because of the long-term survival and an improvement of the patient's quality of life.     

A case of unresectable advanced gastric cancer treated with S-1/low-dose CDDP combination chemotherapy through jejunostomy

A 70-year-old woman with unresectable advanced gastric cancer accompanied by peritoneal dissemination underwent jejunostomy, and was treated with S-1 and low-dose CDDP. One course consisted of S-1 (80 mg/day) via an intestinal fistula tube from days 1 to 14. This was followed by 7 days rest, and CDDP (20 mg/day) was administered by 1-hour continuous intravenous infusion on day 1 and 8. She continued to receive this chemotherapy for a total of 14 courses, followed by 3 courses of a weekly paclitaxel regimen. She died 14 months after surgery. All chemotherapy had been conducted in an outpatient setting. We concluded that the administration of S-1, combined with low-dose CDDP (div) through a jejunostomy, can improve the quality of life (QOL) of a patient who has unresectable advanced gastric and is incapable of oral intake. We report this rare case with a review of the literature.     

A long-surviving patient with unresectable advanced gastric cancer responding to S-1 after receiving improved gastrojejunostomy

Conventional gastrojejunostomy has been employed for unresectable advanced gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis; however, it is often not fully effective. We report a patient with unresectable gastric cancer who was effectively treated with an anticancer drug, S-1, after receiving an improved gastrojejunostomy. The patient was a 55-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital for epigastric pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a Borrmann III tumor in the antrum of the stomach, and gastric roentgenography showed pyloric stenosis. Preoperative findings were T3N2H0P0, stage III b. At operation, the tumor was found to have invaded the duodenum and the head of the pancreas, and disseminated nodules were found in the mesenterium of the small intestine, the left diaphragm, and the round ligament of the liver. A curative operation was impossible for the advanced gastric cancer. Therefore, an improved gastrojejunostomy was performed to allow oral intake. Oral intake started 7 days after the operation, and she left our hospital 20 days after the operation. She started treatment with 80mg/day of S-1, given orally, for 28 days, followed by 14 days rest, as 1 course. During 16 courses of the treatment, she maintained a performance status of 0 to 1 and maintained quality of life. However, she died because of pelvic dissemination and genital bleeding (caused by tumor invasion into the uterus) 2 years and 4 months after the surgery. This case suggested that the improved gastrojejunostomy was a useful method for treating unresectable gastric cancer, allowing the possibility of oral intake, and the use of S-1.     

A case of unresectable gastric cancer presenting pylorus stenosis treated orally with S-1 therapy after gastrojejunostomy

We reported a case of unresectable gastric cancer presenting pylorus stenosis treated orally by S-1 therapy in a 72-year-old man who underwent gastrojejunostomy. He was admitted to our hospital complaining of appetite loss and body weight loss. Detailed examination showed gastric cancer with pylorus stenosis. After insertion of the naso-gastric tube with washing, a laparotomy was done. The operative findings revealed sT3, sN2, sP1, sH0 and sM1 (metastases of No. 14a lymph nodes invading the super mesenteric artery and pancreas) as an unresectable case with stage IV. Gastrojejunostomy and Braun anastomosis were made through the antecolic route. After the operation, intake therapy of S-1 was started (80-100 mg/body/dayx28 days). After 2 courses of the therapy, gastrointestinal fiber showed clinically a partial response of the main tumor. After 3 courses of this treatment, the tumor presented multiple liver metastases as a clinically progressive disease state. Paclitaxel therapy was conducted at a dose of 80 mg/body/weekx3 timesx2 courses. The patient had no effective benefits from the treatment and died of the cancer. He had survived 9 months, and the intervals of the intake and home stay were 7.5 months and five months, respectively, after the operation with no side effect of the chemotherapy. Survival was no longer than for patients only operated without S-1 therapy.     

Gastrojejunostomy followed by chemotherapy with S-1 in unresectable gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis

We investigated the efficacy of gastrojejunostomy followed by S-1-based chemotherapy for unresectable gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis. We performed gastrojejunostomy and S-1-based chemotherapy in 14 unresectable gastric cancer patients with gastric outlet obstructions between April 2006 and June 2010. Although there were two complications after surgery, no treatment-related deaths were observed. The response rate of the S-1-based chemotherapy was 41.7%, and the median survival after surgery was 12.3 months. All patients were tolerating a regular diet and a significant improvement in oral intake lasted for at least 6 months. In conclusion, gastrojejunostomy followed by chemotherapy with S-1 appears to be an effective treatment modality for unresectable gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis. It enables us to practice S-1-based standard chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer and improve the quality of life of patients.     

A case of curatively resected AFP producing gastric cancer with massive lymph node metastasis effectively treated by neoadjuvant-chemotherapy of S-1 and CDDP

A 65-year-old man who had AFP producing gastric cancer with massive lymph-node metastasis was admitted to our institution. Because of bulky lymph-node metastasis, the tumor was considered unresectable. He was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy of S-1 and cisplatin (CDDP).S-1 (80 mg/m2/day) was administered for 21 consecutive days followed by 14 days rest as one course,and CDDP (60 mg/m2) was infused over 2 hours on day 8. After 1 course, radiographic examination showed remarkable improvement in the tumor size of the stomach, and computed tomography showed markedly reduced paraaortic lymph node metastasis. However, surgery was performed after 3 weeks,because of the adverse effect of diarrhea grade 3 after one course of the chemotherapy. This is a rare case in which neoadjuvant chemotherapy of S-1 and CDDP may well be an effective treatment for unresectable AFP producing gastric cancer with bulky lymph-node metastasis.     

Intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel and oral S-1 for a patient with peritoneal dissemination and hydronephrosis due to advanced gastric cancer

We report a patient with type 3 gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination and hydronephrosis who was successfully treated with intraperitoneal infusion of paclitaxel and oral administration of S-1. He was diagnosed with unresectable gastric cancer with severe peritoneal dissemination by staging laparoscopy. We selected combined chemotherapy with both paclitaxel and S-1. Paclitaxel at 60 mg/m² was administered intraperitoneally on days 1 and 8, and S-1 at 100 mg/body was administered orally for 14 days, followed by 7 days’ rest, as one course. After five courses, primary tumor reduction was confirmed and no cancer cells were detected on pathocytological investigation at second-look laparoscopy. The patient underwent total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection. He died from liver metastasis 29 months after the initial treatment, but he had not suffered from peritoneal metastases and had kept a good quality of life (QOL) since that treatment. This chemotherapy can be applied as one of the promising candidates for the treatment of patients with peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.     

A case of unresectable gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis which was resectable by chemotherapy after gastrojejunostomy

A man in his fifties was referred to our hospital for anorexia and vomiting. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a gastric cancer (Borrmann Type 3) with pyloric stenosis. We performed gastrojejunostomy to allow oral intake for a tumor invading the pancreas head (cT4bN1H0P0CY1, Stage IV). After the operation, systemic chemotherapy with S-1 (120 mg/m2) was administered from July 2007, which caused grade 3 mucositis oral and drug rash after one week. Then, bi- weekly administration of CPT-11 (60 mg/m2) and CDDP (30 mg/m2) was started from August 2007 as second-line chemotherapy. The treatment was repeated for 14 courses till an allergic reaction happened. A weekly paclitaxel (PTX) therapy (80 mg/m2) was started from January 2009 as third-line. After 6 courses, CT showed that direct invasion to the pancreas was not clear any more, so a distal gastrectomy with D1 lymphadenectomy was performed on August 2009 (ypT3N- 1P0CY0, Stage IIB). The patient received 9 courses of weekly PTX therapy and after that the treatment has been discontinued. Recurrence was not observed for 48 months after an initial treatment.     

A case of gastric cancer with severe lymph node metastasis effectively treated with docetaxel / S-1 as neoadjuvant chemotherapy

A 75-year-old male patient had advanced gastric cancer with severe lymph node metastasis. He was treated with docetaxel 60 mg/body (day 1) and S-1 120 mg/body (2 weeks administration and 1 week rest) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After two courses of this neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the primary lesion and lymph node swelling were remarkably improved. The patient underwent total gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection. The histological effect was judged to be Grade 3, and no viable cancer cell was detected in the primary lesion and lymph node (pCR). Docetaxel and S-1 combination therapy were thought to be an effective method as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer with severe lymph node metastasis.     

Two patients with StageIV gastric cancer responding to combination therapy with S-1 and low-dose CDDP after reduction surgery

Two patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy and pathological examination were both diagnosed as having Stage IV gastric cancer with distant lymph-node metastases and peritoneal dissemination, respectively. The patients received S-1 and low-dose CDDP in combination therapy after reduction surgery. Each treatment course consisted of S-1 100 mg/body oral administration for 3 weeks and intravenous administration of CDDP at a dose of 25 mg/m(2) on days 7, 14 and 21. The course repeated after a two-week rest period, and the treatment was repeated every five weeks. After three courses of treatment, both patients received S-1 100 mg/body for 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off as long as possible. They remain alive 15 and 12 months after initial treatment, respectively, without any sign of recurrence. The patients did not experience grade 3 or more adverse events and received this regimen as an outpatient. These results suggest that combination therapy with S-1 and low-dose CDDP is effective against advanced gastric cancer.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis and obstructive jaundice responding to s-1/paclitaxel combination therapy after endoscopic balloon dilatation and endoscopic biliary drainage

A 65-year-old female who complained of appetite loss and upper abdominal pain was diagnosed as unresectable advanced gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis and obstructive jaundice by peritoneal and lymph node metastases. After endoscopic balloon dilatation and endoscopic biliary drainage, S-1(80 mg/m(2)/day, days 1-14 with 1 week rest)/pacli- taxel(PTX)(50 mg/m(2)/day, day 1, day 8)combination therapy was done. After one course of the chemotherapy, subjective symptoms were relieved and oral intake was increased. Computed tomography showed that the volume of gastric wall, the size of paraaortic lymph node, and the amount of pleural effusion and ascites were decreased. Grade 1 alopecia, vasculitis and grade 2 neutropenia were observed as adverse reactions to the treatment. S-1/PTX combination therapy after endoscopic intervention was effective in this case of advanced gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis and obstructive jaundice.     

A resected case of advanced gastric cancer with multiple liver metastasis successfully treated by preoperative and postoperative S-1/CPT-11 combination chemotherapy

CASE: A 75-year-old man was admitted for anemia, and a tar stool found by endoscopic examination revealed a type 3 advanced gastric cancer in the lower stomach. Multiple liver metastases 4 cm in diameter were shown on CT. Because we thought that the case was unresectable, S-1/CPT-11 chemotherapy was performed. S-1 (80mg/body/day) was orally administered for 2 weeks followed by a drug-free 1 week, and CPT-11 (100mg/body/day) was given intravenously on days 1 and 8. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, the primary lesion, the regional lymph nodes, and the metastatic lesion of the liver were slightly reduced in size. He was judged as clinical PR, and distal gastrectomy and lymph node dissection were performed. One month after surgery the tumor marker values became normal, and CT could hardly detect metastatic liver tumors. Now, after 3 years, the PR stage has been maintained. Combined use of peroral S-1 and CPT-11 by intravenous infusion is effective for multiple liver metastasis after gastrectomy in gastric cancer.     

A case of Stage IV gastric cancer with liver and peritoneal metastases responding completely to tailored S-1/CPT- 11 combination therapy

A 75-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer underwent distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection(D1)and Roux-en Y reconstruction. Pathological staging was Stage IV (T3N3P1CY1M1), and curability was Cur C. He started adjuvant chemotherapy with oral administration of S-1(100 mg/body weight), but experienced grade 3 anorexia for one month. Abdominal computed tomography(CT)2 months postoperatively showed multiple liver metastases and ascites. We then conducted tailored S-1/CPT-11 as second-line chemotherapy(S-1 80 mg/body weight on days 1-5 and 8-12, CPT-11 60 mg/body weight on days 1 and 8). After 5 courses of this therapy, CT showed that the liver metastases and ascites had disappeared, leading to a complete response(CR). The only adverse event was general grade 1 fatigue. He continues to undergo oral administration of S-1(80 mg/body weight)as maintenance therapy, and maintained CR for 12 months since undergoing chemotherapy. Adverse events in tailored S-1/CPT-11 combination therapy are mild and tolerable, making this regimen a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.     

A feasibility study of sequential paclitaxel and S-1 (PTX/S-1) chemotherapy as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer

Background The most frequent recurrence pattern of advanced gastric cancer is peritoneal dissemination. We investigated the safety of and compliance with sequential chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel and S-1, both of which are effective in the treatment of peritoneal dissemination. Methods The patients in the study all had histologically proven gastric cancer, classified according to the TNM and the Japanese criteria for gastric cancer as T3–4, N0–2, P0, H0 M0, and CY0–1. In all patients, standard gastrectomy of more than a D2 dissection was performed. A dose of 80 mg/m² of paclitaxel was administered for three courses. One course comprised weekly administration for 3 weeks, followed by a 1-week rest, except for the first course (following S-1 administration at 80 mg/m² body surface area), in which paclitaxel was administered for only 2 weeks, followed by a 1-week rest. S-1 was administered from day 78 for four courses, with one course comprising 2 weeks' administration followed by a 1-week rest. Fifty patients received paclitaxel chemotherapy. The median age was 62.5 years overall; among the 34 male patients it was 65.5 years, and among the female patients it was 48.0 years. Results The patient compliance rate was 84%. There were no cases of grade 4 hematological toxicity during either paclitaxel or S-1 treatment. With respect to nonhematological toxicities, there was one case of grade 3 neuropathy during the course of paclitaxel treatment and one case of grade 3 diarrhea during the course of S-1 treatment. These patients recovered and completed the scheduled treatment regimen. Conclusion Sequential chemotherapy of paclitaxel and S-1 as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer is feasible.     

A case of gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination successfully treated by S-1/paclitaxel combination chemotherapy

A 62-year-old woman visited our hospital with diarrhea, bloating, vomiting, and black stool. Borrmann-type 3 gastric cancer with hemorrhaging was revealed by stomach endoscopy. The biopsy showed a poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Moreover, peritoneal dissemination was found by computed tomography and we combined S-1 80 mg/m2(4 weeks administration and week rest)with paclitaxel(PTX)50 mg/ m2 (day 1, 8, 15, 3 weeks rest). After 2 courses, endoscopy showed tumor shrinkage. Therefore, we conducted total gastrectomy with resection of gall bladder and spleen. The final findings were Stage II .We conducted S-1/PTX combination chemotherapy(4 courses)followed by monotherapy as adjuvant chemotherapy. Recently, the woman had been living without relapse four years after operation.     

A case of S-1-resistant recurrent gastric cancer successfully treated with weekly administration of paclitaxel

We report a case of recurrent gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination and paraaortic lymph node metastases, successfully treated with weekly administration of paclitaxel. The patient was a 63-year-old man who underwent distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer in February 2005. After the operation, adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 was started and continued. He complained of abdominal distention, anorexia and nausea in April 2006. Therefore, paclitaxel (PTX) was administered at a dose of 60 mg/m(2)/day for 3 weeks followed by a week rest. Clinical symptoms were relieved, and abdominal X-ray findings showing intestinal obstruction disappeared after 2 courses. CT scan revealed metastatic lymph nodes were reduced after 3 courses. Grade 1 peripheral neuropathy and grade 2 leukocytopenia were noted, but no serious adverse reaction appeared. Weekly administration of PTX may be a promising regimen as second-line chemotherapy for S-1-resistant recurrent gastric cancer.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases responding to bi-weekly paclitaxel therapy

A 68-year-old man underwent bypass operation for gastric cancer, because the tumor was judged to be unresectable due to peritoneal dissemination. After the operation, the patient was treated with daily oral administration of 100 mg TS-1 for two weeks followed by one week rest as one cycle. However, symptoms such as anemia, ascites and edema became worse and the TS-1 resulted in progressive disease. Bi-weekly paclitaxel therapy (80 mg/m2/2 weeks) was then chosen as second line chemotherapy. Anemia and edema were reduced and computed tomography showed shrinkage in the size of lymph nodes and disappearance of ascites. Only grade 1 alopecia was observed as an adverse event during the therapy. Bi-weekly paclitaxel therapy could be safe and useful as the second line therapy.     

A case of long survival of unresected gastric cancer with excellent QOL administered by S-1 alone

We report a case of unresectable gastric cancer, who had been treated with S-1 alone for 3 years without cancerous symptoms. The patient was a 66-year-old male. His diagnosis was advanced gastric cancer based on gastrofiberscopy. He underwent surgery on April 15, 2003. The tumor proved to be unresectable due to direct invasion of the pancreatic head, so only gastrojejunostomy was performed. On day 14 after surgery, the administration of S-1 alone was commenced at a dose of 100 mg per day in a 4-week course of medication at 2-week intervals. No side effects were noted. Moreover, his quality of life (QOL) was not disturbed, and he led an active social life throughout the course. Long survival was achieved by S-1 alone.     

Pilot study of intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel and oral S-1 for patients with peritoneal metastasis due to advanced gastric cancer

Background  There is no standard treatment for peritoneal dissemination from gastric cancer. A novel combination chemotherapy has been introduced for patients with advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. Methods  This pilot study was performed on four patients to confirm safety and efficacy. They were diagnosed with unresectable gastric cancer with severe peritoneal dissemination by staging laparoscopy, or with metastasis to the transverse colon. We selected combined chemotherapy with both paclitaxel and S-1. Paclitaxel at 60 mg/m² or 60 mg/body was administered intraperitoneally on days 1 and 8 and S-1, at 80–120 mg/body, was administered orally for 14 days followed by 7 days’ rest, as one course. After five courses of this therapy, the primary gastric tumors were evaluated by conventional examinations, and second-look laparoscopy was performed to assess the efficacy of the treatment against the peritoneal metastases. Results  After five courses, primary tumor reductions were confirmed, and no cancer cells were detected on pathocytological investigation during second-look laparoscopy in any of the patients. Three patients underwent total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection and one underwent left upper abdominal evisceration. Final histological staging showed two stage 3 and two stage 4 patients. The intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel and the oral administration of S-1 were well tolerated. Three patients died, at 8, 15, and 29 months, respectively, after the initial treatment, and one has been alive for 54 months without recurrence. Conclusion  This chemotherapy can be used in the treatment of patients with peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.     

A fatal case of meningeal carcinomatosis in a Stage IV gastric cancer patient who responded to multi-line chemotherapy

A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with Stage IV gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis, peritoneal dissemination and multiple bone metastasis. One course of low dose CDDP and 5-FU, and 3 courses of S-1 and CDDP were carried out. Although a partial response was obtained, a large amount of ascites appeared again. As a third-line chemotherapy for this patient, PTX (60-100 mg/body) was administered to the peritoneal cavity on day 1 and 14, and S-1 (80 mg/body/ day) was given orally for 2 weeks followed by a 14-day rest period. The ascites had completely disappeared after 1 course of the combined chemotherapy. As a fourth-line chemotherapy, combination chemotherapy of biweekly infused PTX and daily oral S-1 was started, because the primary gastric lesion was increased. Subsequently, various neurological symptoms rapidly appeared, including dizziness, hypertension, and convulsion. Meningeal carcinomatosis was diagnosed by an examination of cerebrospinal fluid, and he died of disease rapid progression.