Effective Use of Gemcitabine in the Treatment of Undifferentiated Carcinoma with Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells of the Pancreas with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

Masato Yoshioka; Hiroshi Uchinami; Go Watanabe; Tomokazu Takahashi; Yasuhiko Nakagawa; Hideaki Andoh; Toshiaki Yoshioka; Hiroshi Nanjo; Yuzo Yamamoto

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.51.7670

CASE REPORTS

Effective Use of Gemcitabine in the Treatment of Undifferentiated Carcinoma with Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells of the Pancreas with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

Masato Yoshioka, Hiroshi Uchinami, Go Watanabe, Tomokazu Takahashi, Yasuhiko Nakagawa, Hideaki Andoh, Toshiaki Yoshioka, Hiroshi Nanjo, Yuzo Yamamoto

Author information

Masato Yoshioka
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Hiroshi Uchinami
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Go Watanabe
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Tomokazu Takahashi
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Yasuhiko Nakagawa
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Hideaki Andoh
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Toshiaki Yoshioka
Department of Pathology, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan
Hiroshi Nanjo
Department of Pathology, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan
Yuzo Yamamoto
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

Keywords: undifferentiated carcinoma, osteoclast-like giant cells, portal vein tumor thrombus, gemcitabine, chemotherapy

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2012 Volume 51 Issue 16 Pages 2145-2150

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.51.7670

Details

Abstract

A 74-year-old woman had an undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCWOGC) in the body of the pancreas with massive portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). Because the PVTT progressed so rapidly into the right portal branch, the patient first underwent distal pancreatectomy and tumor thrombectomy to prevent life-threatening portal venous obstruction. Although a recurrent PVTT had developed early postoperatively, systemic gemcitabine treatment was so effective that it induced complete remission 5 months after the initiation of chemotherapy. The patient continued to be in complete response for 12 months, and has survived for 19 months since surgery.

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