[Successful treatment of an elderly patient with advanced gastric cancer using low-doses of 5-fluorouracil, levofolinate calcium, and cis-platinum with chronomodulation].

An 83-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain and severe vomiting. Gastrography and gastric endoscopy revealed that the pylorus was obstructed by a giant type 2 cancer in the lower gastric body. Furthermore, computed tomography revealed multiple metastases in the para-aortic lymph nodes. The man was unable to consume any food or liquid, and could not take medicine orally. Paclitaxel was not effective in treating the lymph node metastases or vomiting; therefore a chronomodulated schedule was used, which involved the administration of low doses of 5-fluorouracil, levofolinate calcium and cis-platinum (FLP) each night. After four cycles of low-dose FLP therapy, the patient was able to consume food orally. The patient has partially responded to this regime over five months. In the current study, low-dose FLP therapy with chronomodulation was considered an effective treatment, and there were no severe adverse side effects. This case suggested that low-dose FLP therapy with chronomodulation is promising for the treatment of gastric cancer in elderly patients who can not take medicine orally, and further trials are warranted.