[Two Cases of Long-Term Control of Advanced Gastric Cancer Treated with>35 Cycles of Low-Dose Nab-Paclitaxel].

Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel(nab-PTX)is effective as second-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. Long-term administration is generally impossible because of peripheral sensory neuropathy. However, we report 2 cases that were treated with>35 cycles of nab-PTX with dose reduction to control disease progression, which appears to be the highest number cycles so far reported. Case 1 was a male patient in his 70s, with distant lymph node metastases and an advanced primary lesion(tub2). He received 6 cycles S-1/CDDP and achieved a partial response; however, the treatment was changed to second-line chemotherapy with nab-PTX because of adverse effects; the dose of nab-PTX was reduced by 60% every 3 weeks. At the time of writing, 36 cycles have been administered and disease control has been maintained, with Grade 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy. Case 2 was another male patient in his 70s, who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer(mucinous adenocarcinoma). Virchow metastasis was detected 6months after surgery. He received 1 cycle S-1/CDDP and achieved a partial response; however, treatment was changed to second-line chemotherapy with nab-PTX because of adverse effects; the dose of nab-PTX was reduced by 60% every 3 weeks. At the time of writing, 41 cycles have been administered and disease control has been maintained, with Grade 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy.

[A Case of Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Stomach with Multiple Liver Metastases That Show Complete Response to Multidisciplinary Therapy].

A 64-year-old man was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer based on an endoscopic examination in June 2009; histological findings indicated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.Computed tomography revealed multiple liver metastases and bulky lymph node metastases of LN#7.The multiple liver metastases of the gastric cancer were not considered to be candidates for surgical resection, and S-1/CDDP chemotherapy was initiated in July 2009. After 6 courses of this regimen, liver and lymph node metastases showed partial response(PR), but the gastric tumor showed progressive disease(PD).Therefore, we switched this regimen to bi-weekly CPT-11/CDDP in March 2010. However, because the gastric tumor had increased in size and presented with bleeding, we performed distal gastrectomy.The pathological diagnosis based on the resected speci- men was large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.After surgery, CPT-11/CDDP was continued but was switched to CPT-11 in June 2011 because of induced renal dysfunction.In November 2011, the regimen was switched to weekly paclitaxel because of a progressive increase in size of a solitary liver metastatic lesion located in S4-5.Two courses of this regimen were administered, but they were ineffective; therefore, we performed partial hepatectomy.No other recurrent lesions were observed during the surgery, and the patient was estimated to have achieved complete response(CR).After the surgery, no further adjuvant chemotherapy was administered.Four years after hepatectomy, the patient was diagnosed with esophageal cancer but exhibited no recurrence of the gastric cancer.We performed esophagectomy for the esophageal cancer in May 2016.T he patient is currently well without any relapse.

Asymmetric synthesis of gem-diaryl substituted cyclic sulfamidates and sulfamides by rhodium-catalyzed arylation of cyclic ketimines.

Asymmetric addition of arylboronates to aryl-substituted cyclic ketimines proceeded in the presence of a rhodium catalyst coordinated with a chiral diene ligand to give high yields of sulfamidates and sulfamides with high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee).

[A case of colorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma effectively treated with bevacizumab+levofolinate+5-FU chemotherapy].

A 76-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with diarrhea and weight loss in February 2007. A CT scan revealed a tumor in the abdominal cavity, and although a thorough investigation was conducted, no diagnosis was made. Therefore, she underwent diagnostic surgery in April 2007. Intraoperatively, the tumor was determined to have originated in the transverse colon, with invasion to other organs. The patient underwent a transverse colectomy, partial ileal resection, and partial resection of the bladder and peritoneum were performed. The pathological diagnosis was colorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma. FOLFOX4 chemotherapy was initiated in May 2007. However, a CT scan in June 2007 revealed a recurrent tumor in the right pelvis. Although right hemicolectomy and right oophorectomy were performed in August, a CT scan in September 2007 revealed a recurrent tumor in the right pelvis. Following treatment with bevacizumab+levofolinate+5-FU, the tumor disappeared. The patient continued to receive this chemotherapy regimen until August 2010, and CT scans showed a complete response. Even though colorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma is known to have a poor prognosis, the present case was effectively treated with bevacizumab+levofolinate+5-FU chemotherapy. Herein we provide discussion and suggestions about treatment for colorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma.

[Adverse events in patients treated with capecitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery for colorectal cancer--countermeasures against hand-foot syndrome].

Although the 2009 edition of the Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Therapy recommend capecitabine as a standard postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer therapy, a characteristic adverse event, hand-foot syndrome, develops at a high incidence, and appropriate management is necessary to continue therapy. We investigated countermeasures against adverse events, particularly hand-foot syndrome, in patients treated with capecitabine. The subjects were 47 patients aged 64 years (27-84 years) who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. They received 8 (2-16) courses of drug administration. No grade 3 blood or non-blood toxicity was noted, and the therapy was relatively safe excluding an enhanced anticoagulant effect. Grade-3 hand-foot syndrome developed in 3 patients, but there were only 10 grade-2/3 cases (21.7%) because humectants and oral vitamin B6 preparation (supportive therapy) were administered from therapy initiation. The incidence increased to 32.6% (15 patients) after June. Symptoms aggravated due to mechanical stimulation of the hands and legs in 5 patients because they were farmers growing cherries, suggesting that investigation of patient living background is also important. The incidence of grade-2/3 hand-foot syndrome was 21.1 and 75% in 39 and 8 patients, respectively, who were treated with supportive therapy from the initiation of drug administration and after several courses of drug administration or development of symptoms. This suggested the usefulness of early supportive therapy. The importance of preventive measures against hand-foot syndrome will increase as capecitabine is increasingly administered. Information exchange between medical staffs and providing patients with appropriate information may lead to management of adverse events and subsequently to continuation and obtaining effects of therapy.

Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein: techniques and its significance.

BACKGROUND: Preservation of the spleen in distal pancreatectomy has recently attracted considerable attention. Since our first trial and success with spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein for tumors of the pancreas and chronic pancreatitis, this procedure (Kimura's procedure) has been performed very frequently. METHODS: The techniques for spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (SpDP) with conservation of the splenic artery and vein are clarified. The splenic vein is identified behind the pancreas and within the thin connective tissue membrane (fusion fascia of Toldt). The connective tissue membrane is cut longitudinally above the splenic vein. It is important to remove the splenic vein from the pancreas by working from the body of the pancreas toward the spleen (median approach), because it is very difficult to remove it in the other direction. The pancreas is removed from the splenic artery by proceeding from the spleen toward the head of the pancreas. RESULTS: Preservation of the spleen offers various advantages. The maximum platelet levels in blood serum are significantly lower in postoperative patients with splenic preservation than in those with splenectomy. The platelet count was maximal on postoperative day 10 in the 16 patients with SpDP and the count was maximal on postoperative day 13 in the 16 patients with distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (DPS), and there was a smaller increase in the patients with SpDP than in the patients with DPS. Postoperative bleeding from an ablated splenic artery and vein in SpDP has not been encountered. Either DPS or spleen preservation without preservation of the splenic artery and vein may reduce the blood supply to the residual proximal stomach after distal gastrectomy, which is different from the findings in the Kimura procedure. CONCLUSION: In SpDP, a very slight elevation of the platelet count in serum may help to prevent infarction of the lungs and brain compared to DPS. Another advantage of SpDP performed according to our procedure is that the blood supply to the proximal stomach is conserved in patients with SpDP who undergo distal gastrectomy with resection of the left gastric artery. Benign lesions, as well as low-grade malignancy of the body and tail of the pancreas, may be indications for this procedure. Surgeons should know the techniques and significance of SpDP with conservation of the splenic artery and vein, which is a very safe and reliable method.

[A case of recurrence after curative total gastrectomy for gastric cancer successfully treated by combination chemotherapy with CPT-11 and CDDP].

A male in his sixties underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer in August, 2002. After surgery, he underwent 4 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1. About 2 years after the surgery, PET-CT detected liver metastasis and lymph node metastasis, so treatment with CPT-11+CDDP was started with the following regimen: 60 mg/m2 CPT-11 and 30 mg/m2 CDDP biweekly. Five months later, PET-CT revealed that the liver metastasis and lymph node metastasis had disappeared. After judgment of complete response(CR), we continued that treatment every four weeks for one year and every eight weeks for another one year. The patient was followed without any recurrence in January, 2007. For this case, PET-CT was effective for planning the treatment and assessing its response.

Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein.

Preservation of the spleen at distal pancreatectomy has recently attracted considerable attention. Since our first successful trial, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein for tumors of the pancreas and chronic pancreatitis has been performed more frequently. The technique for spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein are outlined. The splenic vein is identified behind the pancreas and within the thin connective tissue membrane. The connective tissue membrane is cut longitudinally above the splenic vein. An important issue is to remove the splenic vein from the body of the pancreas toward the spleen, since a different approach may be very difficult. The pancreas is preferably removed from the splenic artery toward the head of the pancreas itself. This procedure is much easier than removing the pancreas from the vein side. One patient had undergone distal gastrectomy for duodenal ulcer, with reconstruction by Billroth II technique. If distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy had been performed for the lesion of the distal pancreas at the time, the residual stomach would also have to be resected. The potential damage done to the patient by reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract in combination with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy would have been much greater than with distal pancreatectomy only with preservation of the spleen and residual stomach. Benign lesions as well as low-grade malignancy of the body and tail of the pancreas may be a possible indication for this procedure.