Feasibility and reliability of the pandemic-adapted online-onsite hybrid graduation OSCE in Japan.

Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is widely used to assess medical students' clinical skills. Virtual OSCEs were used in place of in-person OSCEs during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, their reliability is yet to be robustly analyzed. By applying generalizability (G) theory, this study aimed to evaluate the reliability of a hybrid OSCE, which admixed in-person and online methods, and gain insights into improving OSCEs' reliability. During the 2020-2021 hybrid OSCEs, one examinee, one rater, and a vinyl mannequin for physical examination participated onsite, and a standardized simulated patient (SP) for medical interviewing and another rater joined online in one virtual breakout room on an audiovisual conferencing system. G-coefficients and 95% confidence intervals of the borderline score, namely border zone (BZ), under the standard 6-station, 2-rater, and 6-item setting were calculated. G-coefficients of in-person (2017-2019) and hybrid OSCEs (2020-2021) under the standard setting were estimated to be 0.624, 0.770, 0.782, 0.759, and 0.823, respectively. The BZ scores were estimated to be 2.43-3.57, 2.55-3.45, 2.59-3.41, 2.59-3.41, and 2.51-3.49, respectively, in the score range from 1 to 6. Although hybrid OSCEs showed reliability comparable to in-person OSCEs, they need further improvement as a very high-stakes examination. In addition to increasing clinical vignettes, having more proficient online/on-demand raters and/or online SPs for medical interviews could improve the reliability of OSCEs. Reliability can also be ensured through supplementary examination and by increasing the number of online raters for a small number of students within the BZs.

Artificial intelligence model for analyzing colonic endoscopy images to detect changes associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

IBS is not considered to be an organic disease and usually shows no abnormality on lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, although biofilm formation, dysbiosis, and histological microinflammation have recently been reported in patients with IBS. In this study, we investigated whether an artificial intelligence (AI) colorectal image model can identify minute endoscopic changes, which cannot typically be detected by human investigators, that are associated with IBS. Study subjects were identified based on electronic medical records and categorized as IBS (Group I; n = 11), IBS with predominant constipation (IBS-C; Group C; n = 12), and IBS with predominant diarrhea (IBS-D; Group D; n = 12). The study subjects had no other diseases. Colonoscopy images from IBS patients and from asymptomatic healthy subjects (Group N; n = 88) were obtained. Google Cloud Platform AutoML Vision (single-label classification) was used to construct AI image models to calculate sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and AUC. A total of 2479, 382, 538, and 484 images were randomly selected for Groups N, I, C and D, respectively. The AUC of the model discriminating between Group N and I was 0.95. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of Group I detection were 30.8%, 97.6%, 66.7%, and 90.2%, respectively. The overall AUC of the model discriminating between Groups N, C, and D was 0.83; sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of Group N were 87.5%, 46.2%, and 79.9%, respectively. Using the image AI model, colonoscopy images of IBS could be discriminated from healthy subjects at AUC 0.95. Prospective studies are needed to further validate whether this externally validated model has similar diagnostic capabilities at other facilities and whether it can be used to determine treatment efficacy.

Colonic TRPV4 overexpression is related to constipation severity.

BACKGROUND: Chronic constipation is prevalent and involves both colon sensitivity and various changes in intestinal bacteria, particularly mucosa-associated microflora. Here we examined regulatory mechanisms of TRPV4 expression by co-culturing colon epithelial cell lines with intestinal bacteria and their derivatives. We also investigated TRPV4 expression in colon epithelium from patients with constipation. METHODS: Colon epithelial cell lines were co-cultured with various enterobacteria (bacterial components and supernatant), folate, LPS, or short chain fatty acids. TRPV4 expression levels and promoter DNA methylation were assessed using pyrosequencing, and microarray network analysis. For human samples, correlation coefficients were calculated and multiple regression analyses were used to examine the association between clinical background, rectal TRPV4 expression level and mucosa-associated microbiota. RESULTS: Co-culture of CCD841 cells with P. acnes, C. perfringens, or S. aureus transiently decreased TRPV4 expression but did not induce methylation. Co-culture with clinical isolates and standard strains of K. oxytoca, E. faecalis, or E. coli increased TRPV4 expression in CCD841 cells, and TRPV4 and TNF-alpha expression were increased by E. coli culture supernatants but not bacterial components. Although folate, LPS, IL-6, TNF-alpha, or SCFAs alone did not alter TRPV4 expression, TRPV4 expression following exposure to E. coli culture supernatants was inhibited by butyrate or TNF-alphaR1 inhibitor and increased by p38 inhibitor. Microarray network analysis showed activation of TNF-alpha, cytokines, and NOD signaling. TRPV4 expression was higher in constipated patients from the terminal ileum to the colorectum, and multiple regression analyses showed that low stool frequency, frequency of defecation aids, and duration were associated with TRPV4 expression. Meanwhile, incomplete defecation, time required to defecate, and number of defecation failures per 24 h were associated with increased E. faecalis frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Colon epithelium cells had increased TRPV4 expression upon co-culture with K. oxytoca, E. faecalis, or E. coli supernatants, as well as TNFα-stimulated TNFαR1 expression via a pathway other than p38. Butyrate treatment suppressed this increase. Epithelial TRPV4 expression was increased in constipated patients, suggesting that TRPV4 together with increased frequency of E. faecalis may be involved in the pathogenesis of various constipation symptoms.

Factors, Including Clinical Trial Eligibility, Associated with Induction of Third-Line Treatment for Advanced Gastric Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Third-line chemotherapy has been suggested to improve survival in patients with gastric cancer. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the induction of third-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer, focusing on patient eligibility for clinical trial. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 335 patients treated for unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer between April 2009 and May 2020. The patients were grouped into those that met the key eligibility criteria for clinical trial (136 patients, 40.6%) and those that did not (199 patients, 59.4%) before receiving first-line chemotherapy. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) was 16.8 months (95% CI: 14.0-19.6) and 9.3 months (95% CI: 7.8-11.0) in the eligible and ineligible group, respectively. Multivariate analyses to identify the risk factors associated with the induction of third-line chemotherapy revealed ineligibility of clinical trial (OR 1.95; 95% CI: 1.15-3.31), number of metastatic sites (OR 1.99; 95% CI: 1.23-3.22), low albumin concentration (OR 2.24; 95% CI: 1.14-4.38), and a lack of complete or partial response to first-line treatment (OR 1.85; 95% CI: 1.05-3.26). Indeed, in responders to first-line treatment for ineligible patients, the median OS was 17.7 months (95% CI: 10.6-27.9), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment outcomes were different for those eligible for clinical trials and those who were not. However, this study suggested that patients who responded to first-line treatment have more favorable prognosis when treated with salvage chemotherapy, even if they were deemed ineligible for clinical trials.

A Review of Potential Role of Capsule Endoscopy in the Work-Up for Chemotherapy-Induced Diarrhea.

Chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) is a common, severe side effect of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Because patients are more prone to continuing chemotherapy if they do not suffer from CID, appropriate diagnosis and monitoring of this disease are essential. However, suitable monitoring methods are yet to be developed. To date, several studies have shown that small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is useful in visualizing the entire small intestinal mucosa and detecting small intestinal abnormalities, including bleeding, malignant tumors, and mucosal injury, associated with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and low-dose aspirin. Currently, limited studies have evaluated the small intestinal mucosa using SBCE in patients receiving fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors. These studies have reported that small intestinal mucosal injury is common in patients with severe fluoropyrimidine-induced diarrhea. SBCE might be a useful screening method for the early detection of enterocolitis induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors. SBCE may be a powerful tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of CID, and understanding its indication, contraindication, and capsule-retention risk for each patient is important for clinicians.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for functional dyspepsia 2021.

BACKGROUND: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a disorder that presents with chronic dyspepsia, which is not only very common but also highly affects quality of life of the patients. In Japan, FD became a disease name for national insurance in 2013, and has been gradually recognized, though still not satisfactory. Following the revision policy of Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JSGE), the first version of FD guideline was revised this time. METHOD: Like previously, the guideline was created by the GRADE (grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation) system, but this time, the questions were classified to background questions (BQs, 24 already clarified issues), future research questions (FRQs, 9 issues cannot be addressed with insufficient evidence), and 7 clinical questions that are mainly associated with treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: These revised guidelines have two major features. The first is the new position of endoscopy in the flow of FD diagnosis. While endoscopy was required to all cases for diagnosis of FD, the revised guidelines specify the necessity of endoscopy only in cases where organic disease is suspected. The second feature is that the drug treatment options have been changed to reflect the latest evidence. The first-line treatment includes gastric acid-secretion inhibitors, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors (acotiamide, a prokinetic agent), and Japanese herbal medicine (rikkunshito). The second-line treatment includes anxiolytics /antidepressant, prokinetics other than acotiamide (dopamine receptor antagonists, 5-HT4 receptor agonists), and Japanese herbal medicines other than rikkunshito. The patients not responding to these treatment regimens are regarded as refractory FD.

Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment Associated with a Mitogen-activated Protein KinaseKinase Inhibitor in a Patient with BRAF-mutant Colorectal Cancer.

We herein report a 73-year-old woman with BRAF V600E-mutated colon cancer treated with encorafenib plus cetuximab with binimetinib as standard salvage therapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. She developed bilateral serous retinal detachment the next day, and the regimen was discontinued, resulting in complete resolution by the third day. Doublet therapy without binimetinib was initiated along with a weekly ophthalmologic examination for 10 weeks without recurrence of retinal detachment. Thus, binimetinib was presumed to have been the cause of the retinal detachment. This clinical course suggests the need for close monitoring of patients for vision impairment and close collaboration with ophthalmologists.

Protein-losing Enteropathy Complicated with Primary Intestinal Follicular Lymphoma.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a rare syndrome characterized by hypoproteinemia due to gastrointestinal (GI) protein loss. Primary intestinal follicular lymphoma (PIFL), a specific variant of follicular lymphoma with essential only GI involvement, has not been reported as an etiology of PLE. We herein report a case of PLE complicated with PIFL that was successfully treated with rituximab, resulting in rapid improvement of PLE and a complete response of PIFL. Macroscopic findings of ulcerative lesions with diffuse involvement, which were precisely described by capsule and double-balloon enteroscopy at the diagnosis, also improved following the treatment. This case provides a clue suggesting factors that promote PLE in PIFL.

Intensive surveillance endoscopy for multiple gastrointestinal tumors in a patient with constitutional mismatch repair deficiency: case report.

BACKGROUND: Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive hereditary disease characterized by the absence of mismatch repair gene activity from birth, which results in brain tumors, colonic polyposis, gastrointestinal cancers, and lymphomas later in life. An aggressive approach, including colectomy or proctocolectomy, is recommended for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Additionally, partial colectomy with subsequent endoscopic surveillance may be an alternative strategy due to poor patient's condition, although there is no evidence of surveillance endoscopy after partial colectomy for CMMRD. CASE PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old male patient with a history of T-lymphoblastic lymphoma underwent total gastrointestinal endoscopy, which revealed rectal cancer, colorectal polyposis, and duodenal adenoma. Differential diagnosis included constitutional mismatch repair deficiency according to its scoring system and microsatellite instability, and subsequent germline mutation testing for mismatch repair genes confirmed the diagnosis of constitutional mismatch repair deficiency based on a homozygous mutation in mutS homolog 6 (MSH6). The patient and his family refused colectomy due to the high risk of malignancies other than colorectal cancer, which could require radical surgery. Therefore, the patient underwent low anterior resection of the rectosigmoid colon for rectal cancer and intensive surveillance endoscopy for the remaining colon polyposis. During the 3-year period after initial surgery, 130 polyps were removed and the number of polyps gradually decreased during 6-months interval surveillance endoscopies, although only one polyp was diagnosed as invasive adenocarcinoma (pT1). CONCLUSIONS: Our experience of short surveillance endoscopy illustrates that this strategy might be one of options according to patient's condition.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration for the Diagnosis of Duodenal Stenosis Due to Urothelial Carcinoma.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) initially presents with hematuria and hydronephrosis. We report a case of UTUC presenting with initial findings of duodenal stenosis before the appearance of hydronephrosis. A 59-year-old man presented with upper abdominal symptoms on his initial visit. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed circumferential stenosis at the descending part of the duodenum. However, the underlying cause of duodenal stenosis was unknown as repeated histopathological examinations of endoscopic biopsy specimens showed no specific findings. We then performed endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of the thickened duodenal wall, and successfully diagnosed duodenal metastasis of UTUC. EUS-FNA is an effective diagnostic method in cases in which the cause of duodenal stenosis is unknown.

Small intestinal mucosal injury and its risk factors in patients with gastrointestinal cancer who developed complicated fluoropyrimidine-induced diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is a common adverse event of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. However, limited data are available on the frequency and risk factors of complicated chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) and small intestinal mucosal damage. In this current study, we aimed to determine the incidence of complicated CID and mucosal injury among patients with complicated CID receiving fluoropyrimidine via small bowel capsule endoscopy (CE) and determined baseline risk factors associated with complicated CID. METHODS: In total, 536 patients with advanced or recurrent gastrointestinal cancer who received fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Diarrhea was evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4. Complicated CID was defined according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines. To evaluate small intestinal mucosal injury in patients with complicated CID, CE was performed. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for complicated CID. RESULTS: Total number of 32 (6%) patients developed complicated CID. Complicating symptoms were noted in 25 (78%) patients, with cramping, vomiting, and sepsis being observed in 15 (60%), 8 (32%), and 3 (12%) patients, respectively. Among the 13 patients who underwent CE, 11 (85%) showed abnormal findings. Multivariate analysis revealed that oral fluoropyrimidine administration was a risk factor for complicated CID (odds ratio 2.95; 95% confidence interval 1.06-8.19). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the relatively low incidence of complicated CID, mucosal injury of small intestine was common in patients with complicated fluoropyrimidine-induced diarrhea and oral fluoropyrimidine was an independent risk factor.

Factors correlated with drug use for constipation: perspectives from the 2016 open Japanese National Database.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of chronic constipation is increased in females and with age or environmental (low temperature), racial, socioeconomic, and habitual risk factors. The impact of low outside temperature on constipation drug use remains unclear. Here, we investigated risk factors for constipation drug use by evaluating data from the Japanese National Database. METHODS: This ecological study used the 2016 open Japanese National Database of health insurance claims (prescriptions) to acquire the number of health insurance prescription claims in all 47 prefectures for drugs to relieve constipation, antihypertensives, vasodilators, as well as medical check-ups and questionnaire responses. Internet survey on room temperatures in 2010 were also used. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between the number of population-based prescriptions for each item were calculated and multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) was performed. RESULTS: Prescriptions for magnesium laxatives significantly correlated with aging (r = 0.58), vasodilators (r = 0.53), being female (r = 0.43), antihypertensives (r = 0.39), and inversely with eating ≤2 h before bedtime (r = - 0.37), total crime rate (r = - 0.33), insomnia (r = - 0.33), and population density (r = - 0.31). Stimulant laxatives (sennoside and picosulfate) were significantly correlated with antihypertensives (r = 0.79), aging (r = 0.69), vasodilators (r = 0.67), and being female (r = 0.56), and were inversely associated with average outside temperature (r = - 0.62), total crime rate (r = - 0.52), average income (r = - 0.51), and 30-min of vigorous exercise (r = - 0.44). Fecal interventions were significantly correlated with aging (r = 0.55) and female (r = 0.59), and inversely correlated with population density (r = - 0.41) and total crime rate (r = - 0.38). MLR analysis identified aging as the only significant risk factor for magnesium laxative use (partial slope [ß] = 1241.0). Female sex and antihypertensives were independent risk factors for stimulant laxative prescriptions (ß = 44,547.0 and 0.2) and average outside temperature and 30-min of vigorous exercise were independent preventive factors (ß = - 616.8 and - 219.1). CONCLUSION: We identified associations of magnesium laxatives with aging, stimulant laxatives with female sex, antihypertensives, low outside temperature and less 30 min of vigorous exercise.

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 Regulation of Adenosine Triphosphate Release by the Adenosine Triphosphate Transporter Vesicular Nucleotide Transporter, a Novel Therapeutic Target for Gastrointestinal Baroreception and Chronic Inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is activated by stretch (mechanical), warm temperature, some epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, and lipopolysaccharide. TRPV4 is expressed throughout the gastrointestinal epithelia and its activation induces adenosine triphosphate (ATP) exocytosis that is involved in visceral hypersensitivity. As an ATP transporter, vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT) mediates ATP storage in secretory vesicles and ATP release via exocytosis upon stimulation. SUMMARY: TRPV4 is sensitized under inflammatory conditions by a variety of factors, including proteases and serotonin, whereas methylation-dependent silencing of TRPV4 expression is associated with various pathophysiological conditions. Gastrointestinal epithelia also release ATP in response to hypo-osmolality or acid through molecular mechanisms that remain unclear. These synergistically released ATP could be involved in visceral hypersensitivity. Low concentrations of the first generation bisphosphate, clodronate, were recently reported to inhibit VNUT activity and thus clodronate may be a safe and potent therapeutic option to treat visceral pain. Key Messages: This review focuses on: (1) ATP and TRPV4 activities in gastrointestinal epithelia; (2) factors that could modulate TRPV4 activity in gastrointestinal epithelia; and (3) the inhibition of VNUT as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Management of Remnant or Recurrent Lesions after Endoscopic Papillectomy.

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) for ampullary adenomas achieves cure rates ranging from 76% to 90%, and recurrence rates are as high as 33%. If remnant or recurrent lesions after prior EP are endoscopically visible and are not suspected of intraductal extension into the biliary or pancreatic duct, repeated snaring and cutting can be performed until all visible lesions are completely resected. However, endoscopic ablative therapies, particularly argon plasma coagulation, can be attempted for tiny or uncertain remnant and recurrent lesions. In addition, intraductal radiofrequency ablation has recently been attempted for residual intraductal lesions after EP at several institutions. Although still under investigation, it has shown some promise. It might be offered as an alternative to surgery, particularly in patients who are unfit for surgery or those who refuse to undergo surgery.

Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels for screening for malignant lymphomas and differential diagnosis from other conditions.

The serum soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R) level is elevated in patients with most types of lymphoid neoplasms, and is also elevated in patients with solid tumors or reactive conditions, such as severe inflammation. To evaluate the diagnostic significance of sIL2R levels for the screening and differential diagnosis of lymphomas, data from 248 consecutive adult patients with suspected lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed in order to determine its diagnostic characteristics and the clinical parameters that affect diagnosis. In 133 patients with aggressive or indolent lymphomas or related neoplasms, the sIL2R level was higher (median: 920 U/ml, standard deviation: 7,312 U/ml) compared with that of 115 patients with other diagnoses (median: 520 U/ml, standard deviation: 727 U/ml), including solid tumors, infection, inflammation, and others. When the cutoff value of sIL2R was 1,104 U/ml, the specificity was 80%, at which point lymphoma was suspected. When the threshold levels were increased from 1,500 to 2,000 U/ml, the specificity increased from 87 to 93%, with the positive likelihood ratio increasing from 2.99 to 4.97, strongly suggesting the diagnosis of lymphoma. The receiver operating characteristic curve for prediction of lymphoma by sIL2R revealed that the area under the curve was 0.695. The curve was nearest to the left corner of the plot when the threshold was 1,946 U/ml; at this point, the sensitivity, specificity and positive likelihood ratio were 35%, 93% and 5.06, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an age >46 years and lactate dehydrogenase level >173 U/l appeared to increase the risk of malignant lymphoma diagnosis. Although sIL2R appears to be a less specific marker for the screening of lymphomas, its detection at higher levels strongly suggests the diagnosis of lymphomas. Therefore, sIL2R may be more useful compared with any other parameter for lymphoma diagnosis, provided other false-positive conditions are taken into consideration.

[Severe interstitial lung disease after one cycle of nivolumab treatment in a patient with advanced gastric cancer].

Although nivolumab was previously reported to cause immune-related interstitial lung diseases (ILD), the detailed characteristics of ILD in gastric cancer are not fully understood. We herein present a rare case of a 66-year-old male with advanced gastric cancer who experienced acute-onset high-grade fever and dyspnea and diagnosed with early-onset ILD during the first cycle of nivolumab. Computed tomography revealed patchy infiltrative shadows and ground-glass opacities. No pathological bacteria were detected in the sputum or the bronchoalveolar lavage, and serous antigens for virus and beta-D-glucan were below the detection limit. These findings were consistent with nivolumab-induced organizing pneumonia. The steroid pulse therapy was effective for ILD, and the patient had complete radiological response, although he relapsed twice during the steroid tapering period.

Involvement of VNUT-exocytosis in transient receptor potential vanilloid 4-dependent ATP release from gastrointestinal epithelium.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) modulates mechanosensitive vagal afferent nerves in the gastrointestinal tract. ATP is stored in secretory vesicles via the ATP transporter VNUT. Recently, the bisphosphate clodronate was reported to inhibit VNUT and was suggested to be a safe potent therapeutic option for chronic pain. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is activated by mechanical stimuli and some epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and becomes sensitized under inflammatory conditions. We have previously reported that TRPV4 and VNUT are expressed in mouse esophageal keratinocytes and that TRPV4 activation induces ATP release in gastric epithelial cells. Here we show the expression of TRPV4 and VNUT in normal human gastrointestinal cell derived cell lines (GES-1 and CCD 841) and in tissues from normal and VNUT-KO mice. TRPV4 agonists (GSK101 or 8,9-EET) induced an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ and/or current responses in mouse primary colonic epithelial cells and CCD 841 cells, but not in cells isolated from TRPV4-KO mice. TRPV4 agonists (GSK101 or 5.6-EET) also induced ATP release in GES-1 and CCD 841 cells, which could be blocked by the VNUT inhibitor, clodronate. Thus, VNUT inhibition with clodronate could represent a novel therapeutic option for visceral pain.

Multiple Synchronous Sporadic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in the Stomach and Jejunum.

A 77-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital for the further examination of melena. A computed tomography scan detected two submucosal tumors (SMTs) in the stomach and jejunum. Double-balloon endoscopy revealed the presence of a delle on the jejunal SMT, suggesting that the SMT was the origin of the gastrointestinal bleeding. Both tumors were surgically resected and subsequently diagnosed via histology as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Furthermore, the two GISTs had different mutations in the c-kit gene, suggesting that they were derived from different clonal origins. This report depicts an extremely rare case of multiple synchronous sporadic GISTs in the stomach and jejunum.

Phase I/II Study of S-1 Plus Cisplatin Alternating With S-1 Plus Docetaxel in Patients With Advanced Gastric Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the usefulness of S-1 plus cisplatin alternating with S-1 plus docetaxel as first-line treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer, we conducted a phase I/II study to determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended dose, and evaluate efficacy and toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed unresectable and recurrent gastric cancer were enrolled in this study. Cisplatin was administered on day 1 and the dose escalated by 10 mg/m from a starting dose of 40 mg/m in the phase I part. S-1 was given orally at 80 mg/m on days 1 to 14 and docetaxel at 40 mg/m on day 22 in combination with S-1 80 mg/m on days 22 to 35. The treatment was repeated every 6 weeks. The primary endpoint of the phase II analysis was the response rate. RESULTS: Nine patients entered the phase I and 24 the phase II part. Because 50% of patients (3/6) developed dose-limiting toxicities in the phase I part, the maximum tolerated dose of cisplatin was presumed to be 50 mg/m. Therefore, the estimated recommended dose of cisplatin was 40 mg/m; 27 patients received that dose. The response rate was 59.3% (95% confidence interval, 40.8-77.8) and the median follow-up 26.2 months. The median progression-free survival was 7.9 months and the median overall survival 18.6 months. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia (59.3%), leucopenia (37.0%), and anemia (29.6%). These toxicities were tolerable and manageable. CONCLUSION: This alternating treatment seems to have promising activity with tolerable toxicities in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer.