[A case of hepatic artery aneurysm that had formed asymptomatically and penetrated into the duodenum].

A 41-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a submucosal protrusion with erosion in the duodenal bulb which was thought to be the bleeding source. Dynamic CT scan, ultrasonography and angiography of the abdomen revealed a hepatic artery aneurysm and a dilated celiac artery that dissected from its origin. Although we considered percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization with metallic coils, we chose surgical resection and vascular reconstruction to prevent hepatic ischemia resulting from interruption of collateral circulation. On the 8(th) day, hepatic artery aneurysmectomy and revascularization with a great saphenous vein was carried out without any severe complication. The pathological specimen demonstrated segmental arterial mediolysis.

[Pathological complete response in advanced gastric carcinoma by S-1/CDDP combination chemotherapy].

A59 -year-old woman was referred to our hospital for a close examination and treatment of an advanced gastric carcinoma. A physical examination and CT scan showed that the right cervical and axillar lymph nodes were swelling, and a histopathological examination of the axillar lymph node revealed metastatic growth of the gastric carcinoma (Stage IV). Then, we started S-1/CDDP combination chemotherapy. S-1 (80 mg/m2/day)was orally administered for 3 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest, and CDDP (60 mg/m2) was administered by drip on day 8. Since the distant metastases were greatly reduced after 6 courses of combination therapy, a distal gastrectomy with lymph nodes dissection (D2) was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected tissues revealed no residual cancer cells, suggesting a pathologically complete response. The clinical course after the operation went well without any complications, and the patient is alive with no evidence of recurrence 1 year after surgery. S-1/CDDP combination chemotherapy appears to be one of the effective treatments for advanced gastric carcinoma.

[A patient with pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer after surgery who responded to S-1].

We report a 60-year-old female with pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer who responded to S-1. In November 2001, she underwent surgery. In October 2005, relapse was detected. As there was no hormone sensitivity, chemotherapy was selected, and oral administration of S-1 at 120 mg/day (2 divided doses) was initiated. After the fourth course, the tumor marker level returned to the reference value. Thoracic CT at the end of the sixth course revealed the disappearance of the metastatic focus. Adverse reactions during the administration period were mild. S-1 showed potent antitumor effects and good tolerance, and it may be useful for treating metastatic/recurrent breast cancer.

[Examination of the safety of docetaxel/cyclophosphamide combination therapy for advanced recurrent breast cancer].

In the treatment of recurrent breast cancer in patients previously treated with anthracycline drugs, taxane drugs are generally used. This time, we retrospectively studied the safety of docetaxel/cyclophosphamide combination therapy (hereinafter referred to as TC therapy). Ten patients (mean age: 52.8 years old) were included in the study. Metastatic/recurrent sites included 3 skin, 2 each of contralateral breast, lung and bone, and 1 each of liver, carcinomatous pleurisy and supraclavicular lymph node. Seven patients had a history of anthracycline treatment. The patients received TC at doses of 60 mg/m(2) and 500 mg/m(2), respectively, every 3 weeks. With regard to adverse events, non-hematotoxic events included alopecia in all the patients, generalized malaise in 5, and abnormal nail in 1. Hematotoxic events were grades 2 and 3 decreased neutrophil count in 5 patients. One patient had grade 4 pyrexia associated with oral candida. The patient was admitted and treated with fluid replacement and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). There were no other patients in whom the treatment was prolonged or dosage was reduced due to adverse reactions. TC therapy is considered to be a beneficial treatment method in terms of safety since it can be instituted on an outpatient basis.

[A case of postoperative pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer treated with docetaxel and cyclophosphamide therapy].

A 55-year-old woman underwent a partial breast resection in our hospital for breast cancer in May 2002. For adjuvant therapy, she received cyclophosphamide, pirarubicin and 5-FU infusion a total of 6 times, and anastrozole. Then, in May of 2004, an abnormal shadow was detected on her of chest X-ray. After CT scan we diagnosed multiple pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer. We used combination therapy of docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2). After 9 months, pulmonary metastasis disappeared on her CT scan. During chemotherapy, she showed no major side effect.