[A case of complete response for advanced gastric cancer with liver metastasis treated with combination chemotherapy of weekly paclitaxel and doxifluridine].

A 68-year-old man underwent total gastrectomy for Type 3 gastric cancer with liver metastasis. The final finding was T3(SE), N1, H1, P0, CY0(class IV), Stage IV, Cur C. After surgery, he was treated with combination chemotherapy of weekly paclitaxel(PTX)/doxifluridine(5'-DFUR). Paclitaxel was administered at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) on day 1, 8 and 15, and doxifluridine was orally administered at a dose of 533 mg/m(2) day for five days followed by withdrawal for two days. This regimen was repeated every four weeks. After 2 courses, the tumor marker level normalized, and the size of the liver metastasis was remarkably decreased. After 5 courses, a CT scan revealed the liver metastasis had disappeared, and he has now survived without recurrence after the disappearance of the liver metastasis. No severe adverse reactions were observed, and the man can be treated as an outpatient. This therapy may thus be effective in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer following non-curative operation.

Omentoplasty versus no omentoplasty for cervical esophagogastrostomy following radical esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Omentoplasty--wrapping the omentum around the alimentary tract anastomosis is thought to lower the rate of anastomotic leakage. We evaluated the role of omentoplasty to reinforce cervical esophagogastrostomy after radical esophagectomy. METHODOLOGY: We compared anastomotic leakage, stricture formation, and related deaths in 63 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastrostomy, with (n = 48) or without (n = 15) omentoplasty, between 1995 and 1999. RESULTS: An esophageal anastomotic leakage was diagnosed in 1 of the 48 patients (2.1%) with omentoplasty versus 3 of the 15 patients (20.0%) without omentoplasty (P < 0.01). Anastomotic stricture occurred in 2 (4.2%) of the omentoplasty group and 1 (6.7%) of the no omentoplasty group (P < 0.01). Death within 1 month was zero in the omentoplasty group and one (6.7%) in the no-omentoplasty group, despite no differences in lethal anastomotic leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Omentoplasty of cervical esophagogastrostomy reduced anastomotic leakage. Although promising, these observations require confirmation with a randomized prospective study.

Weekly paclitaxel in combination with doxifluridine for peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer with malignant ascites.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of systemic chemotherapy for peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer remains unclear. The efficacy of weekly paclitaxel in combination with doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) in gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed gastric cancer with ascites were eligible. The treatment consisted of paclitaxel intravenously (i.v.) administered at 80 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks, and doxifluridine administered orally at 533 mg/m(2) on days 1-5 every week. The response rate for patients with ascites was determined based on the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma. Also, the concentration of paclitaxel in the ascites was measured. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were investigated. The response rate (RR) was 41.7%, including complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) in 4 and 6 patients, respectively. The concentration of paclitaxel in the ascites was maintained between 0.01 µM and 0.05 µM until 72 hours. The median overall survival (OS) was 215 days, and 1-year survival rate was 29.2%. No severe toxicity was noted. CONCLUSION: Weekly paclitaxel in combination with doxifluridine is effective for gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites with an acceptable toxicity profile.