In the present study, we evaluated the pathological effects of preoperative chemotherapy with low-dose CDDP and 5-FU (low-dose FP therapy) in patients with advanced gastric cancer. 50 patients diagnosed as advanced gastric cancer were administered continuous infusion of 5-FU (300 mg/m(2)/day, x 14 days) and intermittent infusion of CDDP (3 mg/m(2)/day, day 1-5 and 8-12) before surgery. The pathological effects were considered comparatively regarding the response rate of chemotherapy for gastric cancer between primary lesions and metastasis of lymph nodes and the rate of downstaging cases with low-dose FP therapy. The rates of effective cases were 26% (primary lesions) and 28% (lymph nodes). Furthermore,in the same patient,the results of low-dose FP therapy with primary tumor were more effective than those of lymph nodes (the rates of effective cases were 34% and 19%, respectively). The rate of downstaging cases with low-dose FP therapy for gastric cancer was 6%, histologically. These results indicate low-dose FP therapy for gastric cancer is promising for effective clinical management of advanced gastric cancer in preoperative treatment.