[Arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer by sequential MTX/5-FU]

Intra-aortic infusion chemotherapy by low-dose sequential MTX/5-FU was performed in 46 advanced or recurrent gastric cancer patients. Partial response was found in 13 cases (28%). The major lesion of 13 responders was inoperable Borrmann Type 4 gastric cancer in 4 cases, peritoneal recurrence with an abdominal wall in 6 cases, recurrence in the abdominal mass in 2 cases and Douglas pouch in one. The mean duration of effectiveness in the responders was 6.7 months and the median survival time was 19 months after the treatment. The side effects were mainly related to the digestive organs, but the symptoms were mild. Leucopenia of grade 3 and 4 was found in 6 (13%) and thrombocytopenia of grade 2 in one patient. Arterial infusion chemotherapy by sequential MTX/5-FU proved to be effective in poorly differentiated and signet ring cell carcinoma, such as Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer.