TS-1 is a novel oral anticancer drug that is a formation of 5-FU. It consists of tegafur, CDHP (which inhibits 5-FU degradation enzyme), and Oxo (which reduces gastrointestinal toxicities) for an increased anticancer effect. We applied individual TS-1 therapy in 22 cases (cs) of inoperable gastric cancer and studied the clinical and adverse effects. Patients were treated with daily oral administration of 80-100 mg TS-1 for 4 weeks, followed by a rest for 1 or 2 weeks. The response rate was found to be 27.3% (6/22) (PR: 6 cs, NC: 4 cs, PD: 10 cs, NE: 2 cs). Overall, the median survival time was 8.2 months and the one-year survival rate was 23.6%. By location, the response rate of the primary lesion was 27.3% (6/22), abdominal lymph node metastasis 18.8% (3/16), and liver metastasis 33.3% (4/12). There was no significant difference in the response rate by tissue type. A comparison by whether or not patients had undergone previous chemotherapy revealed a response rate of 37.5% (6/16) in patients who had undergone previous chemotherapy, and 0% (0/6) in those who had not. The prevalence of adverse effects was 68.2% (15/22), with the main adverse effects being myelosuppression, pigmentation and appetite loss. However, adverse effects with a grade of more than 3 occurred in only one case of neutropenia. We could observe the course of all patients on an outpatient basis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Subjects older than 60 years with negative findings on sigmoidoscopy should still undergo colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of age on the prevalence of proximal clinically important lesions in subjects without any rectosigmoid neoplasm. METHODOLOGY: The present study involved 497 patients (aged > or = 50 years old) who underwent a colonoscopy because of abdominal symptoms or positive fecal occult blood test. A proximal colon was defined as one proximal to a sigmoid colon. Clinically important lesions were defined as adenocarcinoma, tubular adenoma > or = 1 cm in diameter, or adenoma with villous histology or high-grade dysplasia. RESULTS: Of the 497 patients, 83 had clinically important lesions in the proximal colon. Of those 83, 53 patients had no neoplasm in the distal colon or rectum. In patients with no distal neoplasm, the prevalence of proximal clinically important lesions in subjects over 60 years old significantly exceeded that in patients aged 50-60 (39/105 vs. 14/125; P < 0.0001). In patients with distal neoplasm, the prevalence of proximal clinically important lesions in subjects over 60 was similar to that in 50 to 60-year-old subjects (16/119 vs. 14/148; P = 0.406). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that subjects older than 60 years old should still undergo a colonoscopy even if they have no neoplasm on sigmoidoscopy.

Adenoma↗