Mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gallbladder: a case report.

BACKGROUND:  Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the gallbladder (GB-NETs) are rare, accounting for 0.5% of all NETs and 2.1% of all gallbladder cancers. Among GB-NETs, mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gallbladder (GB-MiNENs) are extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 66-year-old woman who was referred to us for the management of a gallbladder tumor (incidentally found during abdominal ultrasonography indicated for gallbladder stones). The patient had no history of abdominal pain or fever, and the findings on a physical examination were unremarkable. Blood tests showed normal levels of tumor markers. Imaging studies revealed a mass of approximately 10 mm in diameter (with no invasion of the gallbladder bed) located at the fundus of the gallbladder. A gallbladder cancer was suspected. Therefore, an open whole-layer cholecystectomy with regional lymph nodes dissection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 6. Pathological findings showed GB-MiNENs with invasion of the subserosal layer and no lymph node invasion (classified T2aN0M0 pStage IIA according to the Union for International Cancer Control, 8th edition staging system). Analysis of the neuroendocrine markers revealed positive chromogranin A and synaptophysin, and a Ki-67 index above 95%. Fourteen months after the operation, a local recurrence was detected, and she was referred to another hospital for chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS:  GB-MiNENs are extremely aggressive tumors despite their tumor size. Optimal therapy should be chosen for each patient.

[Efficacy of Laparoscopic Gastrojejunal Bypass for Unresectable Gastric Cancer with Pyloric Stenosis].

In general, gastrojejunal bypass is performed for unresectable gastric cancers with stenosis. It enables patients to take food and be discharged from the hospital earlier. Previously, we used to primarily perform open gastrojejunal bypass; however, recently, we perform laparoscopic gastrojejunal bypass because it is minimally invasive. We evaluated 31 patients who underwent gastrojejunal bypass for unresectable gastric cancer in our department between December 2009 and December 2019. We retrospectively compared the laparoscopic surgery group(n=7)with the open surgery group(n=24). No significant difference in patient background was found between the study groups. Compared to patients in the open surgery group, those in the laparoscopic group had significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay and time until initiation of oral intake, relatively lesser blood loss, and no postoperative complications. Moreover, more patients in the laparoscopic group than in the open surgery group were administered postoperative chemotherapy. Further, postoperative chemotherapy was administered sooner in the laparoscopic group than in the open surgery group. Laparoscopic gastrojejunal bypass is a safe and less invasive treatment for unresectable gastric cancer with stenosis. It may be superior to the conventional open surgery with regard to early postoperative chemotherapy for cancer.

[Successful Treatment with Nab-Paclitaxel for Stage â £ Gastric Cancer in an Elderly Patient on Hemodialysis].

An 84-year-old man on hemodialysis was referred to our department for an advanced gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis. Pre-operative CT showed thickening of the stomach wall at the primary lesion and regional lymph node metastasis, while no clear peritoneal metastasis was found. However, we found peritoneal disseminations during the operation, so gastrojejunal bypass was performed. After the operation, he hoped chemotherapy despite risk factors such as renal failure and old age. We introduced a reduced dose of weekly nab-paclitaxel to him. After 3 courses, CT showed the primary lesion had decreased in size, and after 6 courses, serum CA19-9 level decreased to 61.8 U/mL from 2,343 U/mL at the before treatment. No serious adverse events were observed during the chemotherapy. However, after 8 courses, the tumor markers was gradually re-increased, and CT showed the primary tumor re-increased after 9 courses. Therefore, he received irinotecan alone as the second-line. He is still alive 1 year and 8 months after diagnosis of gastric cancer. It is generally said that the risk of cancer chemotherapy for dialysis patients and the elderly is high. However, we suggest that it could be safely performed by examining the appropriate drug and dose. Weekly nab-paclitaxel regimen could be one of the promising options for these patients.

[A Case of Synchronous Multiple Liver Metastases from Ascending Colon Cancer Showing Pathological Complete Response to CapeOX Treatment].

The patient was a 30-year-old man who underwent a medical examination for shortness of breath.An abdominal computed tomography(CT)scan revealed advanced ascending colon cancer with multiple metastases to the liver.We performed a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy first, due to the obstruction.Postoperatively, the patient received capecitabine plus oxaliplatin( CapeOX)chemotherapy.After 10 courses of CapeOX, the multiple liver metastases had reduced remarkably in size. Colectomy of the anastomosis and partial hepatectomy were then performed.Histological examination of the resected tissue revealed no residual cancer cells, suggestive of a pathological complete response.

[A case of complete response (CR) persisting for 2 years from S-1 administered five days a week in a patient with gastric cancer].

We attempted S-1 administered five days a week from March, 2004 for an 84-year-old female harboring Borrmann type 1 gastric cancer because her family did not agree to her gastrectomy. After treatment for 1 month the lesion changed into a shallow ulcer. The lesion was clinically diagnosed with CR about 3 months later. As of October, 2006, 2 years after inducing CR, we have been administering S-1 to the patient, with no regrowth of the tumor.

[Evaluation of pre-operative administration of TS-1 in patients with advanced gastric or colorectal cancer--estimation of pathological effectiveness for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with TS-1].

We performed surgical resections in 6 cases of advanced gastric cancer and 4 cases of colorectal cancer after preoperatively treating them with TS-1 at a daily dose of 80-100 mg/body for 2 weeks, and evaluated whether one can estimate their sensitivity to TS-1 by a pathological examination. Case 1 of type 3 advanced gastric cancer underwent surgery after one week interval following oral administration of TS-1 at a daily dose of 80 mg/body for 2 weeks. Surprisingly, the pathological examination revealed complete disappearance of cancer cells in the resected stomach and no cancer cells in the regional lymphnodes, judged grade 3 in pathological effectiveness. Case 2 of type 2 advanced gastric cancer was treated with TS-1 at a daily dose of 100 mg/body for 2 weeks and underwent surgery after a three-week interval due to the complication of pneumonia. The pathological effectiveness was judged grade 2 in the resected stomach, and no cancer cells were detected in the regional lymphnodes. In both cases, the postoperative course was uneventful, and no adverse effects were detected. In these cases, their high sensitivity to TS-1 was clearly confirmed, and now they have been treated with TS-1 for the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and have undergone regular check-ups at our outpatient clinic in good condition. Recently, we performed the same protocol in 6 cases of advanced gastric cancer including these 2 cases and also in 4 cases of advanced colorectal cancer. This protocol was found useful for evaluating the pathological effect by TS-1. We consider the protocol quite useful and helpful in determining a suitable regimen for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

[A case of gastric cancer with paraaortic lymph node metastasis responding to preoperative chemotherapy and surviving 4 years and 4 months after total gastrectomy].

A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of type 4 gastric cancer associated with paraaortic lymph node metastasis. Considered surgically incurable, she was placed on preoperative chemotherapy consisting of Methotrexate (MTX) 50 mg (day 1), CDDP 10 mg (day 2-6), 5-FU 500 mg (day 1-6) and Leucovorin (LV) 60 mg (day 2-6). Because of severe nausea and leucopenia, she could receive only 1 course of the chemotherapy. CT on January 7, 1997 (5 weeks after the chemotherapy) showed that the gastric wall thickness and the paraaortic lymph nodes swelling had decreased remarkably. She underwent total gastrectomy on January 13, 1997 (pT2, pN2, pM1 (LYM), stage IV, TNM classification). As an outpatient, she was treated with UFT-E 300 mg/day (continuous until the present) and MTX 50 mg (day 1), 5-FU 500 mg (day 1) and LV 60 mg (day 2-3) once two weeks (total 27 cycles). Four years and 4 months after surgery, although peritoneal recurrence was suspected, she has been managed at our outpatient clinic.