[A pilot study of TS-1+CDDP therapy for highly advanced stage IV gastric cancer].

We performed a pilot study of combination chemotherapy with TS-1 and cisplatin for highly advanced gastric cancer. From June 2002, 12 patients with multiple liver metastases, carcinomatous lymphangitis or peritoneal dissemination, were enrolled in the study. TS-1 was administered at a daily dose on day 1-21 and an intermediate-dose of cisplatin (60 mg/m2) was administered on day 8. The combination was repeated in a 5-week cycle. The median administered cycles were three (one to eight). An objective response was obtained in 9 cases (75.0%) of primary sites and 6 cases of metastatic sites. No severe hematological toxicity occurred, and grade 3 stomatitis (in one case) and vomiting (in two cases) occurred as non-hematological toxicities. The improvement of clinical symptoms such as appetite loss and abdominal discomfort was obtained in 9 of 10 cases. The median survival time is 244 days. The TS-1/CDDP regimen had almost no survival benefits, but may induce relief of symptoms due to cancer and better quality of life.

Suspicion of superior mesenteric artery syndrome in a patient with severe gastric dilatation after catheter ablation.

Catheter ablation is a widely used treatment for atrial fibrillation. Gastric hypomotility due to periesophageal vagal plexus injury is a consequence of the extracardiac penetration of ablative energy. Some affected patients develop severe gastric dilatation requiring hospitalization. However, most previous reports have stated the cause of the subject's condition to be "unknown" or described the symptoms using obscure terms, such as "paralytic" or "gastroparesis." For example, one report stated that a few sites of severe gastric dilatation were secondary to "pyloric spasms;" however, no illustrations were provided in the paper. "Superior mesenteric artery syndrome" is a suspected cause of such dilatation.

Phase II study of S-1 as first-line treatment for elderly patients over 75 years of age with advanced gastric cancer: the Tokyo Cooperative Oncology Group study.

PURPOSE: This prospective multicenter phase II study was carried out to investigate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of S-1 monotherapy in elderly patients over 75 years of age, with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. METHODS: Patients had measurable or evaluable lesions according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma. S-1 (25-60 mg determined by the body surface area and creatinine clearance) was given orally, twice daily. A course of treatment consisted of 4-week administration followed by a 2-week rest period, and the patients received repeated courses. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were enrolled. Pharmacokinetics of S-1 was studied in six patients, and the maximum plasma concentrations of respective metabolites after S-1 administration were found to be similar to those reported for younger cancer patients. The overall response rate in 33 patients was 21.2% (95% CI, 10.7-37.8%), and median progression-free survival was 3.9 months, with a median overall survival of 15.7 months. Frequently noted adverse events include leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia, anorexia, and fatigue. As for serious adverse events, relatively higher frequencies of anemia (9%) and anorexia (12%) of grade 3 severity were found, but there were no grade 4 episodes. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that S-1 monotherapy is safe and useful for elderly patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer when the dose is selected with caution, taking into account renal function.