Complete response of anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma to paclitaxel treatment selected by chemosensitivity testing

Int J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun;15(3):310-3. doi: 10.1007/s10147-010-0038-9. Epub 2010 Mar 2.

Abstract

A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our institute in June 2007 because of obstructive jaundice. A mass in the pancreatic head and multiple swollen lymph nodes surrounding the common hepatic artery were identified using computed tomography (CT). Subsequently, endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) was done. Histopathologic results revealed anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas. Using specimens obtained with EUS-FNA, chemosensitivity testing with adenosine triphosphate assay was performed. Testing indicated high chemosensitivity to paclitaxel (PTX). According to this result, chemotherapy using PTX was performed, and the primary lesion and lymph node metastases disappeared completely on CT. The patient has been doing well with no recurrence for 1 year and 11 months since initial chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / secondary
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor*
  • Endosonography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tubulin Modulators / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Tubulin Modulators
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Paclitaxel