[Adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine for colon cancer - a case series].

We examined the treatment condition; adverse events, especially hand-foot syndrome (HFS); and prognosis in 65 patients with colon cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine. The treatment completion rate was 75.4%; however, only 15.4% of patients completed treatment without dose reduction or treatment interruption. HFS occurred in 78.5% of all cases. The 3-year relapse-free survival rate was 73.8% for all cases, 80.8% for treatment-completed cases, and 51.1% for treatment-discontinued cases; however, there were no differences in relapse-free survival rates for cases that required dose reduction or treatment interruption. We conclude that adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine is effective in colon cancer and that completing treatment (even with dose reduction or dose interruption) improves prognosis.

[A case report of long-term survival in the patient with anorectal malignant melanoma].

Malignant melanoma of the anorectal region is rare, and the prognosis is considered to be poor. We present a case of long-term survival in a 56-year-old patient with primary malignant melanoma in the anorectal area, who complained of anal bleeding. Barium enema showed an elevated lesion in the anorectal region. Colonoscopy revealed a 3 cm sessile tumor with focal pigmentation, and a satellite nodule, 1 cm in diameter. Based on diagnosis of malignant melanoma by biopsy, abdominoperineal resection with lateral node dissection was performed. Pathologically the tumor remained in the mucosa, and no lymph node metastasis was found. This patient refused any adjuvant chemotherapy after the operation, and remains well without any sign of recurrence for seven years.