A case of advanced gastric cancer with peritonitis carcinomatosa resected with intraperitoneal chemotherapy based on chemosensitivity test with ascites

: The patient was a 57-year-old man who developed obstructive jaundice and pancreatitis. He was diagnosed with peritonitis carcinomatosa from gastric cancer, and the cancers were unresectable at first laparotomy. We gathered the accumulated ascites and examined the fluid by chemosensitivity test. Some anti-cancer drugs were selected based on the test results of test, and four cycles of modified PMUE therapy (CDDP ip, MMC iv, ETP po, UFT-E po) were performed. This chemotherapy proved very effective, and the cytodiagnostic malignancy with ascites changed from class V to II before and after chemotherapy. Following chemotherapy, a re-laparotomy was performed and a curability B operation could be undertaken. He survived for 17 months after the first laparotomy, but died of extra-peritoneal recurrence in the pelvic cavity. Treatment of advanced gastric cancers with peritonitis carcinomatosa is very difficult, because none of the various therapies (operation, chemotherapy, hyperthermia etc.) can completely control dissemination. It is very effective when the chemosensitivity of individual cancers is clear before chemotherapy. The current chemosensitivity test with ascites is still technically incomplete, but it may contribute to improved treatment of cancers with peritonitis carcinomatosa in the future.