[A case of unresectable non-small cell lung cancer with pleural dissemination successfully treated with DIF]

A 68-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with an abnormal shadow on her chest CT, which showed a mass lesion 3.5 cm in diameter at segment 7 in the right lung. At thoracotomy, a curative operation could not be performed because of pleural dissemination, so a partial resection was done for the histopathological examination. It showed papillary adenocarcinoma and clinical Stage IIIB. Her family hoped not to inform her that a curative operation was impossible. We explained the necessity of adjuvant chemotherapy to her, and she consented to UFT. However, the level of CEA gradually elevated, and pleural effusion on the right side appeared 2 years after operation. We converted UFT into TS-1. The level of CEA gradually reduced, and pleural effusion disappeared. We conclude that oral administration of UFT or TS-1 is useful as palliative chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer without serious adverse events and worsening of quality of life.