[A case of effective weekly paclitaxel administration for advanced gastric cancer associated with diabetes mellitus -about the control of blood glucose when dexamethasone for prophylaxis against paclitaxel-associated hypersensitivity reactions to the diabetic has been administered].

A 69-year-old woman had been treated with insulin for diabetes over the last 8 years. Distal gastrectomy (D2) was undertaken for StageIV stomach cancer. CA19-9 showed marked increases after surgery, but returned to normal after administering S-1. After 12 cycles, the treatment was discontinued due to hepatic disorders, and the clinical course was monitored. Weekly paclitaxel therapy was initiated as second-line therapy when CA19-9 rose again to 467 U/mL. Marked efficacy was noted after completion of one cycle. A total of 23 cycles were conducted. CA19-9 returned to normal, and the patient remains recurrence-free. In the treatment with paclitaxel, pre-treatment with dexamethasone (20 mg each time) is made to prevent hypersensitivity reactions. Since the total dose becomes too large in weekly treatment, however, treatment was initiated at 12 mg in our patient, and the dose was reduced stepwise to 8 mg, 4 mg and 2 mg. At the same time, the dose of insulin at bedtime and before breakfast the following morning was increased in increments of 2 units. This made it possible to maintain good control of blood glucose levels and minimize changes in HbA1c. This experience suggests that the dosage regimen needs refinements in diabetic patients such as a reduction in the dose of steroids and increases in the dose of insulin in long-term treatment.