[A case of stage IV b pancreatic head cancer that was resected because of a good response to chemotherapy]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2015 May;42(5):633-5.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

The prognosis of Stage IV b pancreatic cancer is extremely poor; the mean survival time is 2-4 months. However, new anticancer agents can improve the outcome of advanced pancreatic cancer. We present the case of a 50-year-old female patient with Stage IV b pancreatic head cancer with invasion to the superior mesenteric vein(SMV)and multiple liver metastases. The patient received S-1 as first-line chemotherapy. Three months later, a further CT scan showed reduction of the pancreatic tumor, disappearance of the liver metastases, and reduction in SMV invasion. Therefore, a subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy with partial SMV resection was performed. Following surgery, the patient received S-1 chemotherapy again. However, lung metastasis appeared. Despite the initiation of gemcitabine(GEM)treatment, the patient developed metastases in other parts of the lung and the abdominal wall. She died 46 months after surgery, but it is noteworthy that the liver metastases were manageable. The combination of chemotherapy and surgery was effective in prolonging survival in this patient with Stage IV b pancreatic head cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use*
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Combinations
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Oxonic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Pancreaticoduodenectomy
  • Tegafur / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Drug Combinations
  • Deoxycytidine
  • S 1 (combination)
  • Tegafur
  • Oxonic Acid
  • Gemcitabine