A case report of highly advanced gastric cancer with ascites with long survival and improved QOL from combined chemotherapy of paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil

The patient was a 63-year-old male who came to our hospital with the chief complaints of dyspepsia and abdominal fullness. Endoscopic findings showed Type 3 gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis. CT examination revealed a large amount of peritoneal fluid, invasion to the pancreas, peritoneal dissemination and paraaortic lymph node metastasis. Intraperitoneal administration of weekly CDDP 10 mg/body was in vain, and combined chemotherapy of paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil was carried out. Ascites was significantly reduced and oral intake became possible two courses after this regimen. The tumor decreased in size after 3 courses, and the tumor markers returned to within normal limits. The patient was then discharged, and followed as an outpatient thereafter. Endoscopic examination showed improvement in narrowing of the antrum. However,tumor invasion to pancreas, peritoneal dissemination and lymph node metastasis relapsed. He died one year and one month after the onset.