Case 1: Recurrent gastric cancer

Last update: June 15th, 2023/AT1

Reduction of malignant ascites and long-term survival in a patient with recurrent gastric cancer treated with a combination of docetaxel and mistletoe extract

Oh SJ 2020 [293]

A 71-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer (stage IIIb, T_4b N₁ M₀) underwent total gastrectomy and then received adjuvant chemotherapy with the XELOX regimen (capecitabine and oxaliplatin). After 8 cycles, the patient complained of generalised weakness and bloating. Subsequent CT again showed ascites as well as peritoneal carcinomatosis. The second-line chemotherapy regimen was changed to FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan). Due to renewed side effects of generalised weakness, nausea and vomiting, he discontinued after the first cycle of chemotherapy and began mistletoe therapy. The malignant ascites gradually decreased during mistletoe therapy, so third-line chemotherapy with docetaxel was started while mistletoe therapy was continued. The patient achieved good health 32 months after combination treatment and survived more than 60 months after surgery without disease progression.

Last update: June 15th, 2023/AT1