A case of AFP producing gastric cancer for which radiation therapy was effective in paraaortic lymph node recurrence

: The patient was a 75-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with type 3 gastric cancer. Total gastrectomy with D2-#10 lymph node dissection and partial hepatic resection was performed. Histological findings showed it to be stage IV (pT2N1M0P0CY0H1) and AFP producing gastric cancer. After the operation, liver metastasis was found, and RFA, partial hepatic resections, hepatic intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (5-FU, CDDP), intravenous chemotherapy (docetaxel, paclitaxel, CPT-11) were applied. Although liver metastasis was disappeared, paraaortic lymph node recurrence appeared, and chemotherapy was not effective. Radiation therapy (2 Gy/day, total 50 Gy) for paraaortic lymph node metastasis was performed. The metastatic node underwent complete remission following a radiation therapy. Three years and six months passed since the first operation, and the patient has shown no signs of relapse. Therefore, our case suggests radiation therapy could be an effective treatment modality for the lymph node metastasis in AFP producing gastric cancer.