Long-term and surgical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Surgical resection with a free margin is the gold standard treatment for these lesions.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of performing laparoscopic resection for gastric GIST from the viewpoint of operative and long-term oncological outcomes.

METHODS

Between 2005 and 2011, a total of 78 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic resection of gastric GISTs were enrolled in a retrospective single-center study. Patient and tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, risk classification, postoperative complications, mortality, recurrence, and survival time were collected from a database, and the descriptive statistics were estimated.

RESULTS

Patients (N = 78; 32 males and 46 females) with a median age of 63 years (range 31-82) were evaluated. The tumors were located at the cardia (10.3%), upper stomach (59.0%), middle stomach (23.1), and lower stomach (7.7%). The mean size of the tumors was 34.7 ± 12.1 mm. The laparoscopic procedures included wedge resection (92.3%), such as laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery (51.3%), and gastrectomy (7.7%). All cases exhibited a pathologically negative margin. The mean operative time was 147.5 ± 63.8 min, and the mean estimated amount of blood loss was 17.8 ± 47.9 ml. The mean length of hospitalization was 9.4 ± 12.8 days. The incidence of perioperative complications higher than grade III was 2.6%, including two cases of anastomotic leakage. Regarding risk classification, low, intermediate and high were observed in 61, 6, and 11 cases, respectively. During a mean follow-up period of 45.3 ± 18.5 months, one patient experienced local recurrence in the omentum. Meanwhile, four patients died due to other diseases; all other patients survived.

CONCLUSIONS

Adequate oncologic resection was achieved in all cases. Laparoscopic surgery is a feasible option for gastric GISTs <5 cm.

Clinical significance of serum tumor markers for gastric cancer: a systematic review of literature by the Task Force of the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association

The aim of this review was to evaluate the clinical significance of serum tumor markers, particularly CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4, in patients with gastric cancer. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE with the keywords "gastric cancer" and "tumor marker," to select 4,925 relevant reports published before the end of November 2012. A total of 187 publications contained data for CEA and CA19-9, and 19 publications contained data related to all three tumor markers. The positive rates were 21.1 % for CEA, 27.8 % for CA19-9, and 30.0 % for CA72-4. These three markers were significantly associated with tumor stage and patient survival. Serum markers are not useful for early cancer, but they are useful for detecting recurrence and distant metastasis, predicting patient survival, and monitoring after surgery. Tumor marker monitoring may be useful for patients after surgery because the positive conversion of tumor markers usually occurs 2-3 months before imaging abnormalities. Among other tumor markers, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is useful for detecting and predicting liver metastases. Moreover, CA125 and sialyl Tn antigens (STN) are useful for detecting peritoneal metastases. Although no prospective trial has yet been completed to evaluate the clinical significance of these serum markers, this literature survey suggests that combinations of CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 are the most effective ways for staging before surgery or chemotherapy. In particular, monitoring tumor markers that were elevated before surgery or chemotherapy could be useful for detection of recurrence or evaluation of the response.

[Therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer with positive peritoneal lavage cytology without peritoneal dissemination]

We analyzed the prognosis of patients with positive lavage cytology, excluding other unresectable factors.From 2002 to 2008, 76 advanced gastric cancer patients positive for malignant cells(CY1)were investigated for our study.There were 60 patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery.Sixteen patients were treated by chemotherapy only. The MST of the chemotherapy group was 427 days, and that of the gastrectomy group was 442 days, although this was not statistically significant.The multimodality therapy group undergoing gastrectomy and chemotherapy consisted of 42 patients.The MST of this group was 647 days.In the multimodality therapy group, there were 28 patients undergoing chemotherapy using S-1.The MST of this group was relatively better(1, 249 days).CY1 appeared to be a worse prognostic factor, but P0CY1 survival was better than in P1. As a therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer with positive peritoneal lavage cytology, multimodality therapy with gastrectomy and chemotherapy using S-1 may be effective.

Interface pressure is affected by slippage of bandages at thigh

AIM

Very little is known about how compression bandages lose interface pressure. We hypothesized that the loss of interface pressure is correlated with the slippage of the bandages, and studied the interface pressure and slippage of three bandages over 8 hours.

METHODS

Twenty-Seven legs from 27 healthy volunteers were bandaged with short stretch bandages (SS), cohesive short stretch bandages (CS), and long stretch bandages (LS). Pressure sensors were placed above the ankle (B1), below the knee (D), and mid thigh (F). Interface pressures in a sitting position were recorded at the beginning, and 4 and 8 hours later. In 17 legs, the pressure sensor sites were marked, and their heights were measured on standing upright.

RESULTS

SS and CS lost interface pressure quickly, but LS maintained pressure better than SS and CS at all sites. There was no pressure difference between SS and CS at the lower leg. However, CS maintained pressure better than SS at the mid thigh (44.6% vs. 54.4% pressure loss at 8 hours, respectively. P=0.037). There was a tendency toward less slippage with CS than SS at the mid thigh. In CS and LS, there was a linear correlation between the slippage of bandages and the interface pressure at the mid thigh (P <.01, in both).

CONCLUSION

The interface pressure may be affected by the slippage of bandages at the thigh, but not at the lower leg. Cohesive short stretch bandages may exert their beneficial impact at the thigh.

[Para-aortic lymph node dissection for far-advanced gastric cancer followed by chemotherapy]

We evaluated the safety of preoperative chemotherapy against advanced gastric cancer with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. In this study, we compared 11 patients who received preoperative chemotherapy(PC group) to 56 patients who did not receive preoperative chemotherapy (NPC group). We performed 47 total gastrectomies and 2 distal gastrectomies in the PC group and 9 total gastrectomies and 9 distal gastrectomies in the NPC group. In the PC group, the mean operation time was 275 min for distal gastrectomy and 297 min for total gastrectomy. In the NPC group, the mean operation time was 265 min for distal gastrectomy and 296 min for total gastrectomy. Regarding blood loss during operation, in the PC group, the mean blood loss was 650 mL for distal gastrectomy and 760 mL for total gastrectomy. In the NPC group, the mean blood loss was 530 mL for distal gastrectomy and 825 mL for total gastrectomy. No significant differences were seen between the 2 groups. In conclusion, preoperative chemotherapy against advanced gastric cancer with para-aortic lymph node metastasis appears to be a safe treatment, but we need to conduct clinical trials for confirmation.

[Inhibitory effect of CXCR4 blockers on a CXCR4-expressing gastric cancer cell line in nude mice]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

CXCR4, one of the chemokine receptors, plays a major role in cell migration in metastasis and cancer dissemination. However, it is not known whether CXCR4 is associated with tumor growth in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of CXCR4 blockers on CXCR4-expressing gastric cancer in vivo.

METHODS

Cells of a CXCR4-expressing gastric cancer cell line, K-MK-2, were transplanted into nude mice. A CXCR4 blocker, AMD3100 (2 mg/kg), was injected and another blocker, KRH3955 (1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg), was administered orally. Both drugs were administered for 5 days followed by 2 days of rest. The mice were sacrificed on the 35th day following transplantation and the weights of the tumors were measured.

RESULTS

The mean weights of the tumors were 7.092±1.221 g in the control mice, 5.137±1.001 g in the ADM3100-injected mice, 3.895±2.120 g in mice treated with 1 mg/kg of KRH3955, and 4.257±1.169 g in mice treated with 10 mg/kg of KRH3955. The 2 CXCR4 blockers significantly inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells transplanted into the nude mice.

CONCLUSION

The CXCR4 blockers AMD3100 and KRH3955 inhibit tumor growth in vivo. These drugs are possible candidates for personalized therapy of gastric cancer.

[Clinical study to evaluate EPA-enriched immunonutrition with ProSureTM during chemotherapy in cancer patients]

We report a prospective, single-arm, pilot study conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Oncology Group in order to evaluate the effect of a fish-oil enriched nutritional supplement(ProSureTM) during cancer chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancer. ProSureTM was given for more than 1 month to patients with advanced cancer whose prognosis was more than 3 months before enrollment. Laboratory data including serum albumin level, body weight, body composition, and functional status data were collected at baseline, 14 days, and 28 days. Oral supplementation consisted of 2 packs of ProSureTM per day for more than 28 days during chemotherapy. The study population included 50 patients. This study is now ongoing.

Prospective observational study of imatinib therapy in Japanese patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors: long-term follow-up and second malignancy

Objective

Limited data are available concerning long-term results of imatinib therapy in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We aimed to clarify the long-term outcomes of imatinib therapy in Japanese patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Methods

A prospective, observational study of imatinib therapy for unresectable and metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors was conducted in our institution. Imatinib was initiated at a dose of 400 mg daily and continued until disease progression. Safety, efficacy and long-term tolerability and survival were evaluated in an intent-to-treat population. The median follow-up period in this study was 68 months.

Results

Seventy patients were enrolled between December 2001 and December 2009. Treatment-related Grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 49 patients (70.0%). Although 14 patients required adverse effect management with hospitalization, only 5 patients (7.1%) withdrew from the treatment owing to imatinib intolerance. The tumor response and clinical benefit rates were 61.4 and 85.7%, respectively. Thirty-seven patients (52.9%) maintained the treatment at 400 mg daily imatinib, whereas 33 patients (47.1%) had their dose reduced to 300 mg daily or less. The overall survival rate at 5 years was 60.9% and the median survival time was 70 months. The median progression-free survival time of all the 70 enrolled patients was 30 months. Seven patients (10.0%) suffered from second malignancies, including three patients with genitourinary carcinomas.

Conclusions

Despite the need for dose reduction, the long-term results of imatinib therapy for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors were good in Japanese patients. Physicians should pay attention to the occurrence of second malignancies during imatinib therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients.

[A case report of the combination therapy with S-1 plus CDDP intraperitoneal chemotherapy for CY positive cancer patient]

A male patient in his 50s underwent distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. In operation, there was no peritoneal dissemination. But peritoneal lavage cytology revealed positive peritoneal dissemination. Thus, we set an intraperitoneal infuser port to this patient. On specimen, a type-3 tumor was located in the gastric lesser of antrum to angle. Microscopic examination of specimens revealed a signet ring cell carcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma under serosa, and positive of lymph node metastasis. The diagnosis was pT4N2M1P0CY1H0, Stage IV( Japanese classification of gastric carcinoma The 14 Edition). CDDP was administered through the infuser port (on day 7, a first dose of 60 mg/m2 and 30 mg/m2 for second) combined with oral administration of S-1 (100 mg/body) for two weeks, with one week of drug withdrawal. This chemotherapy was repeated for 11 courses. After that, peritoneal lavage cytology became negative. S-1 oral administration was continued for four years, and this patient has been well for five years and six months after the surgery. Therefore, it is suggested that intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin is an effective treatment for microscopical peritoneal dissemination.

[A case of gastric neuroendocrine cell carcinoma successfully treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy]

A 74-year-old man, whose chief complaint was epigastralgia, was referred to our hospital and diagnosed gastric cancer with liver metastasis. Gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a tumor on the lesser curvature of cardia of stomach. He was diagnosed as neuroendocrine cell carcinoma by biopsy specimens. He was treated by combined chemotherapy of CPT-11 and CDDP. After 11 courses, endoscopic examination revealed a complete disappearance of the primary tumor. CT-scan and MRI showed that the liver metastasis had been disappeared. We diagnosed as clinical CR and performed total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection and partial hepatectomy. Histological findings revealed a few cells in stomach and no cancer cells in the liver. He was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy of S-1. After 3-course, he suffered from anemia of grade 3, thus we interrupted chemotherapy. The patient remains alive for 28 months without recurrence. We conclude that chemotherapy was effective for neuroendocrine cell carcinoma of the stomach, which was to be considered of poor prognosis, and that liver resectomy was often effective.

Resolution of HLA class I sequence-based typing ambiguities by group-specific sequencing primers

The increasing demand for allele-level human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing has led the sequence-based typing (SBT) to become the preferred method. In turn, the steady increase in the number of HLA alleles driven by the adoption of SBT as the ultimate typing method leads to the ever increasing number of cis/trans ambiguities. Over the last few years, additional sequencing with the commercially available group-specific sequencing primers (GSSPs) has replaced sequence-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction and group-specific amplification as the means of resolving cis/trans ambiguities in many laboratories. Here we summarize our 3-year experience in designing and utilizing GSSPs for resolution of HLA class I ambiguities. The panel of GSSPs used in our laboratory includes 14 primers for HLA-A, 18 for HLA-B, and 13 primers for HLA-C. The panel resolves 99.9% of all ambiguities.

A novel procedure for Roux-en-Y reconstruction following laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy: transoral placement of anvil and intracorporeal gastrojejunostomy via umbilical mini-laparotomy

We describe herein our procedures for Roux-en-Y reconstruction using a transoral anvil following laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). The procedure consists of three technical processes: transoral placement of the anvil with the head pre-tilted, extracorporeal preparation of the Roux-en-Y limb, and intracorporeal gastrojejunostomy with a circular stapler introduced via an umbilical mini-laparotomy. We applied the procedure to 33 patients with early gastric cancer between December 2008 and June 2010. None of the patients suffered from surgical complications related either to the transoral placement of the anvil or the anastomoses. The postoperative wound appearance was much less conspicuous than that of conventional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, because our procedure needed only a 4-cm mini-laparotomy on the umbilicus, except for the trocar ports. This technique involving transoral anvil placement enables intracorporeal anastomosis for gastrojejunostomy via an umbilical mini-laparotomy, and may be one of the surgical choices for anastomosis and Roux-en-Y reconstruction following LADG.

Biochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of the isoforms of myosin and actin in human placenta

Human placenta has long been known to contain large quantities of smooth muscle-type myosin and actin, while precise isoform compositions of its contractile proteins are not known. To determine the isoform compositions, myosin and actin were extracted from human term placentas and subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting by using isoform-specific monoclonal anti-myosin and anti-actin antibodies. The placental myosin was found to be composed of about 65% of a nonmuscle-type heavy chain isoform (MIIA), each about 15% of two smooth muscle-type heavy chain isoforms (SM1 and SM2) and about 5% of a brain/fetus-type heavy chain isoform (MIIB2). Whereas the MIIA isoform was present in both vascular and extravascular tissues, the SM1 isoform was localized almost only in the vascular tissue. Similarly, human term placenta was found to contain approximately 60, 30, and 10% of β-nonmuscle, α-smooth muscle, γ-smooth muscle actin isoforms, respectively. The β-nonmuscle actin was located primarily in the extravascular tissue, while the α-smooth muscle actin was located mostly in the vascular tissue. The extravascular tissue of the human term placenta thus appears to be composed of almost only nonmuscle-type isoforms of contractile proteins. The vascular tissue appears to be composed of both smooth muscle-type and nonmuscle-type isoforms of contractile proteins.

Phase II study of weekly paclitaxel following fixed three cycles of S-1-based chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Awareness of the clinical importance of second-line chemotherapy for incurable gastric cancer has been increasing. To assess the clinical validity of the new concept that second-line chemotherapy following predetermined cycles of first-line chemotherapy would improve survival, we conducted a phase II study.

METHODOLOGY

Patients with pathologically proven incurable gastric adenocarcinoma and adequate organ functions were enrolled. S-1 or S-1 plus cisplatin was administered as first-line chemotherapy. The number of cycles of S-1-based chemotherapy was determined to be three as a maximum unless there was disease progression. The treatment was followed by weekly administration of paclitaxel. The primary endpoint was overall survival and the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival and safety.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients were eligible for enrollment. Twenty-eight patients (76%) underwent the second-line chemotherapy with paclitaxel after completion of S-1-based chemotherapy or disease progression. Treatment-related grade 3 or 4 toxicity was noted in 14 patients during S-1-based chemotherapy, and in 6 patients during paclitaxel treatment. The median survival time was 455 days and the median progression-free survival was 229 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Sequential set chemotherapy with three cycles of S-1-based chemotherapy followed by weekly paclitaxel is feasible. The survival results are equivalent to those of other current regimens using S-1.

Local differences in electrogastrographic indices associated with total gastrectomy, total colectomy, distal gastrectomy and colonic replacement

The electrogastrographic indices of spectral frequency, instability factor (IF), power amplitude, and power content (%) were compared between control subjects (C), and subjects following either total gastrectomy (TG), total colectomy (TC), distal gastrectomy (DG) or colonic replacement surgery (CR). In the fasting state, both the spectral frequency and IF of the epigastric 3-cycle per minute (cpm) group of the TC subjects were significantly lower than those indices in C, TG, DG, and CR subjects. In contrast, the power amplitude and power content of the epigastric 3-cpm group of both TG and DG subjects were significantly lower than those of C and TC subjects. The original epigastric waves of TG had remarkably high amplitudes. Furthermore, the absolute power of the epigastric 3-cpm of the TC subjects was 10 times higher than that in either the C or TG subjects. These results may be partially explained by the assumption that the recorded epigastric electrogastrography (EGG) is mainly contributed to by the 3-cpm myoelectric activity of the stomach and colon, while the infraumbilical EGG is mainly contributed to by the 3-cpm myoelectric activity of the colon. Topographic EGG maps visually supported these assumptions.

[A successfully treated case of type 4 gastric cancer with intraperitoneal free cancer cells undergoing a curative resection followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 plus cisplatin]

A 41-year-old female complained of epigastric pain and was referred to our hospital. Gastrofiberscopy revealed that type 4 gastric cancer located at the whole gastric body. Although abdominal computed tomography showed that no distant metastasis but regional lymph node metastasis existed, staging laparoscopy and cytological diagnosis revealed that there were intraperitoneal free cancer cells without overt peritoneal metastasis(P0CY1). She received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 plus cisplatin for consecutive 21 days followed by 7 days of rest as a course. After 3 courses of the chemotherapy, intraperitoneal free cancer cells were not found, and she underwent curative gastrectomy. Pathological examination showed that the therapeutic effect was Grade 2. S-1 as postoperative chemotherapy had been prescribed for 10 months without relapse. However, she suffered from anorexia and abdominal distension and peritoneal metastasis was confirmed on the 575th day after curative operation. She has received a weekly paclitaxel therapy as second-line chemotherapy.

[A case of gastric endocrine cell carcinoma with liver metastases treated with S-1/CDDP]

Gastric endocrine cell carcinoma is known to be highly malignant with a poor prognosis, and no standard treatment has been established. We experienced a case of gastric endocrine cell carcinoma with liver and lymph node metastases. The lesions became resectable after chemotherapy with S-1/cisplatin (CDDP). The patient was a 68-year-old male. He had gastrointestinal endoscopy for screening without complains. The endoscopy findings showed that a type 3 gastric cancer on lesser curvature of ventricular angle of the stomach, and was histologically diagnosed as an endocrine cell carcinoma by the biopsy specimen. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed metastatic lesions at S2 and S3 of the liver, and No.6 lymph node enlargement. Thus he was diagnosed as gastric endocrine cell carcinoma with liver and lymph node metastases. He was treated chemotherapy with S-1/CDDP every 5 weeks. After these courses of treatment, liver and lymph node metastatic lesions had reduced in size, but the primary lesion was still remained. Then he suffered from a drug induced eruption due to S-1. We changed the chemotherapy to biweekly CPT-11/CDDP. After 21 courses, he underwent distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection and a partial liver resection. Histological findings revealed that there were no cancer cells in removed specimens. He had treated 8 courses of CPT-11/CDDP therapy after the surgery, and survived for 5 years without recurrence.

[An effective treatment by chemotherapy with S-1 and CDDP intraperitoneal administration for the peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer--a case report]

The most common treatment for patients of peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer is a systemic chemotherapy, but the prognosis of these patients is very poor. For these diseases, some have reported the usefulness of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP), because of the direct cytotoxicity. Here, we report an effective treatment by chemotherapy with S-1 plus CDDP, intraperitoneal administration for the patients of peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer. The patient was a 41-year-old male with upper abdominal pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a large type 3 gastric cancer from the cardia to antrum. Intraoperative peritoneal lavage cytology and dissemination was positive, thus we performed the total gastrectomy and implanted the intraperitoneal (IP) port in the Douglas's pouch. S-1 was given orally twice daily for the first 3 weeks of a 5-week cycle. CDDP was given as an intraperitoneal infusion on day 8 of each cycle. After 10 courses, he was treated with S-1 alone because he had an allergic reaction of CDDP. In 35 courses, he had survived for 5 years as disease free. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy may be a promising treatment for the patients who have peritoneal dissemination from gastric cancer.

Identification and expression analysis of connexin-45 and connexin-60 as major connexins in porcine oocytes

During mammalian oogenesis, intercellular communication between oocytes and the surrounding follicle cells through gap junction channels is crucial for oocyte development and maturation. The channel properties of gap junctions may be affected by the composition or combination of connexins, the expression of which is regulated by gonadotropins and other factors. Thus, identification and expression analysis of connexin genes in oocytes and follicle cells will help us to better understand how oogenesis and folliculogenesis are regulated in a species-specific manner in mammals. We previously reported the spatiotemporal expression of multiple connexin genes in porcine follicle cells. Here, we searched for connexin genes specifically expressed in porcine oocytes that may be involved in the formation of gap junctions between oocytes and follicle cells. To achieve this, we constructed an oocyte-specific cDNA library to identify which connexin genes are expressed in these cells and found that gap junction protein, alpha 10, which encodes connexin-60, and a porcine ortholog of mouse gap junction protein, gamma 1 encoding connexin-45, are the major connexins expressed in porcine oocytes during folliculogenesis. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization of sectioned porcine ovaries confirmed oocyte expression of these genes at 3 different stages of ovary development. Furthermore, their gap junction channel activity was assessed using a heterologous cell system. However, gap junction protein, alpha 4, which encodes connexin-37 and is expressed in the oocytes of several other mammals, was undetectable. We demonstrate that there is diversity in the connexin genes expressed in mammalian oocytes, and hence in the gap junctions connecting oocytes and cumulus cells.

Gastrojejunostomy followed by induction chemotherapy for incurable gastric cancer with outlet obstruction

A 72-year-old male gastric cancer patient with outlet obstruction underwent laparoscopic exploration. The examination disclosed intraperitoneal free cancer cells with no overt peritoneal, lymphatic, or hepatic metastasis. The patient underwent laparoscopy-assisted gastrojejunostomy (LAGJ) and started chemotherapy with S-1 plus cisplatin on postoperative day 13. Three course of the chemotherapy shrank the tumor markedly. Then, the patient underwent gastrectomy with a curative intent. Laparotomy revealed no intraperitoneal free cancer cells, and microscopically complete resection was achieved. The patient received S-1 chemotherapy as postoperative adjuvant treatment for 1 year, and is still alive with no evidence of peritoneal recurrence. LAGJ followed by S-1 plus cisplatin is one of the optional treatments that should be considered for patients with outlet obstruction as it may widen opportunities for potentially curative resection.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with paraaortic lymph node recurrence reaching a long-term survival by S-1 chemotherapy]

A 55-year-old male patient with epigastralgia was diagnosed as type 3 gastric cancer at the lower gastric region. Total gastrectomy and D3 lymph node dissection were performed in our hospital. Pathological findings showed pT2N2M0, pStage IIIA. He was treated with 5'-DFUR and PSK therapy as adjuvant chemotherapy for 18 months after surgery. At 24 months after the operation, paraaortic lymph node recurrence was confirmed by computed tomography. He was treated with single agent S-1 in 10 courses on a 4-week dosing regimen with a 2-week interval. After 4 courses, CT showed a disappearance of paraaortic lymph node. He was obtained a complete response. Now the patient is disease-free for 11 years after operation.