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This phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in advanced gastric cancer. Patients with histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma were eligible for the study. Paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (75 mg/m(2)) were given as a 1-hr intravenous infusion on day 1, followed by 5-FU (750 mg/m(2)) as a 24-hr continuous infusion for 5 days. This cycle was repeated every 3 weeks. Forty-five eligible patients (median age, 56 yr) were treated in this way. Of the 41 patients in whom efficacy was evaluable, an objective response rate (ORR) was seen in 51.2% (95% CI, 0.35-0.67), a complete response in two, and a partial response in 19 patients. The median progression free survival was 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.86-7.94 months), and the median overall survival was 12.7 months (95% CI, 9.9-15.5). The main hematological toxicity was neutropenia and greater than grade 3 neutropenia was observed in twelve patients (54%). Febrile neutropenia developed in three patients (6.8%). The major non-hematological toxicities were asthenia and peripheral neuropathy, but most of patients showed grade 1 or 2. In conclusion, combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU is a promising regimen, and was well tolerated in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of bone (PLB) is rare, and generally presents as a single extensive and destructive bone lesion. Histopathologically, most cases present as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and T-cell lymphoma is rare. By contrast, multiple myeloma is a disease defined as the neoplastic proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells producing a monoclonal immunoglobulin. We report a case of multiple myeloma that developed during treatment of PLB in a type of T-cell. A 48-yr-old man was diagnosed as T-cell PLB, stage IE, 18 months ago. The patient received the chemoradiotherapy and salvage chemotherapy for PLB. However, the lymphoma progressed with generalized bone pain, and laboratory findings showed bicytopenia and acute renal failure. On bone marrow biopsy, the patient was diagnosed as having multiple myeloma newly developed with primary T-cell lymphoma of bone. In spite of chemotherapy, the patient died of renal failure.

The diagnosis of incracranial tuberculoma in immune-compromised hosts is often difficult because conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of tuberculoma reveals various findings and neurologic symptoms are not typical. Here, we report a case of a 54-yr old man with multiple intracranial tuberculoma who was treated for acute myeloid leukemia. He complained of right-side paresthesia after the third consolidation chemotherapy without leukemic relapse and fever. MR imaging of the brain showed multiple ring-enhanced lesions in the cerebrum, cerebellar hemisphere, and pons. The lesions appeared to mimic a metastatic tumor or abscess. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed no abnormal cells, but the level of adenosine deaminase was elevated (28.8 IU/L, normal 0-8). Stereotactic brain biopsy was performed, but only reactive gliosis was observed. To confirm diagnosis, an open brain biopsy was performed. The histopathology demonstrated chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis. Tuberculous-polymerase chain reaction of the biopsy showed a positive result. He was treated with anti-tuberculosis medication and a high dose of steroid. Paresthesia improved, and follow-up brain MR imaging showed the decreased size and numbers of ring-enhanced lesions and improvement of perilesional edema 1 month after treatment. Here, we report on an interesting case of intracranial tuberculoma in acute myeloid leukemia.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an uncommon inflammatory myopathy with characteristic rash accompanying, or more often preceding, muscle weakness. There is a well-recognized association between DM and several cancers, such as ovarian cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We report the first case of cancer of unknown primary site associated with DM. A 62-yr-old woman presented to us with both shoulder painful swelling and facial edema. She was diagnosed previously as cancer of unknown primary site, histologically confirmed with squamous cell carcinoma in a pelvic mass. For the following days, she complained of erythematous face followed by progressive weakness of the proximal muscles of upper and lower limbs. The laboratory tests showed an increased muscle enzyme and acute phase reactants. The electromyogram showed the typical findings of DM. After the treatment with high dose steroid and methotrexate, the proximal motor weakness improved, and she received palliative radiation therapy.