[Long-term survival in a case of recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumor treated with intermittent or low-dose imatinib].

A 65-year-old woman with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)underwent a total gastrectomy in 1999. In 2004, she was diagnosed with an intra-abdominal recurrence and was treated with 300mg/day of imatinib. Because of the side effects of imatinib, we interrupted the treatment and were forced to reduce the dose from 300mg/day to 100mg/day. However, at present, the tumor remains controlled. In conclusion, this case suggested that, even if given irregularly or at a low-dose, continuous treatment with imatinib might contribute to long-term survival in patients with GIST.

Weekly paclitaxel therapy is effective for gastric adenosquamous carcinoma: a case report.

A 65-year-old man was admitted for epigastralgia. On endoscopy, a type 3 cancer from the lower body of the stomach to the antrum was found, and abdominal CT scan demonstrated multiple liver metastases and peritoneal dissemination. A distal gastorectomy was performed. On, pathological examination, a diagnosis of adenosquamous carcinoma was confirmed, and lymph node metastases around the perigastric areas were found. The patient was given chemotherapy consisting of S-1 alone (120 mg/day, days 1-28 with two weeks rest). After two courses of chemotherapy, his liver metastases were found to have progressed, and paclitaxel was given at a weekly dose of 80 mg/m2 for 3 weeks, followed by a one-week rest. The carcinoembryonic antigen level decreased remarkably, and the liver metastases had decreased on CT. Thus, extensive chemotherapy for the liver metastases improved the patient's prognosis, while maintaining his quality of life.