[Successful chemotherapy based on in vitro chemosensitivity testing in a case of recurrent thymic carcinoma]

Kyobu Geka. 1998 Mar;51(3):235-8.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 71-year-old woman underwent radical resection in May 1994 for a mediastinal mass invading the anterior chest wall. Histopathological examination revealed adenosquamous cell carcinoma. She was treated with postoperative chemotherapy including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 4'-D-tetrahydropyrayl-doxorubicin (THP), based on in vitro chemosensitivity testing (CST), by MTT assay, using a surgical specimen. In December 1994, a recurrent tumor was detected on the left anterior chest wall and the patient received two courses of 5-FU, THP and methotrexate (MTX). The size of the chest-wall tumor decreased 25%. In July 1995, the patient had involvement of the left axillary lymph node and brain metastases in addition to the mass on the chest wall. Therefore, cisplatin, 5-FU and MTX were selected as treatment agents, based on CST using a metastatic axillary lymph node. After two courses of these agents, chest computed tomography showed a 91% reduction in the size of the chest wall tumor. Radiation was administered for the brain metastasis. In March 1997, the patient died of thymic carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / secondary
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Cisplatin
  • Fluorouracil
  • Methotrexate

Supplementary concepts

  • CMF protocol