PurposeThe aims of this study were to make serial comparisons of the quality of life (QoL) between patients who underwent total gastrectomy and those who underwent distal subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer and to identify the affected scales with consistency.Materials and MethodsQoL data of 275 patients who were admitted for surgery between September 2008 and June 2011 and who underwent subtotal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. The Korean versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and the gastric cancer specific module, the EORTC QLQ-STO22, were used to assess QoL.ResultsQoL, as assessed by the global health status/QoL and physical functioning, revealed a brief divergence with worse QoL in the total gastrectomy group 3 months postoperatively, followed by rapid convergence. QoL related to restrictive symptoms (nausea/vomiting, dysphagia, reflux, and eating restrictions) and dry mouth was consistently worse in the total gastrectomy group during the first 2 postoperative years.ConclusionsThe general QoL of patients after gastrectomy is highly congruent with subjective physical functioning, and the differences between patients who undergo total gastrectomy and subtotal gastrectomy are no longer valid several months after surgery. In order to further reduce the differences in QoL between patients who underwent total gastrectomy and subtotal gastrectomy, definitive preoperative informing, followed by postoperative symptomatic management, of restrictive symptoms in total gastrectomy patients is the most rational approach.

Strongyloides stercoralis can cause systemic infection, termed strongyloidiasis, and gastrointestinal ulcer disease in immunocompromised patients. However, to our knowledge, there are no reported cases of comorbid gastric adenocarcinoma and S. stercoralis infection. Here, we report a case of an 81-year-old Korean man who presented with S. stercoralis infection coexisting with early gastric adenocarcinoma (T1aN0M0). S. stercoralis eggs, rhabditiform larvae, and adult females were observed in normal gastric and duodenal crypts. They were also observed in atypical glands representative of adenocarcinoma and adenoma. Preliminary laboratory tests revealed mild neutrophilic and eosinophilic leukocytosis. A routine stool test failed to detect rhabditiform larvae in the patient’s fecal sample; however, S. stercoralis was identified by PCR amplification and 18S rRNA sequencing using genomic DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. Postoperatively, the patient had a persistent fever and was treated with albendazole for 7 days, which alleviated the fever. The patient was followed-up by monitoring and laboratory testing for 4 months postoperatively, and no abnormalities were observed thus far. The fact that S. stercoralis infection may be fatal in immunocompromised patients should be kept in mind when assessing high-risk patients.

Persistent QoL deterioration after distal subtotal gastrectomy is primarily due to financial difficulties, eating restrictions, and body image concerns. Preoperative-based interpretation of postoperative QoL may exaggerate the persistency of reduced QoL and conceal on-going QoL deterioration after surgery.

Although rapid advances in treatment options have improved the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer (AGC), it remains a major public health problem and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) are microtubule stabilizing agents that inhibit the process of cell division, and have shown antitumor activity in the treatment of AGC as a single or combination chemotherapy. Accordingly, this review focuses on the efficacy and tolerability of taxanes in the first-or second-line chemotherapy setting for AGC.Keywords: gastric cancer; taxanes; paclitaxel; docetaxel; chemotherapy BackgroundAlthough rapid advances in treatment options have improved the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer (AGC), it remains a major public health problem and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world [1,2]. For metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer, one of the most important treatment modality is systemic chemotherapy, yet the optimum standard chemotherapy regimen for AGC remains debatable, and most responses to chemotherapy are partial and short-term.Cisplatin is a small-molecule platinum compound that forms intrastrand cross-links, which activate the apoptotic pathway, resulting in cell death [3]. Cisplatin has had a significant impact on the treatment of AGC. A doublet combination regimen of either cisplatin-based or 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy has been regarded as standard treatment for AGC [4]. Previous studies have shown that a cisplatin-based combination was marginally superior to other combinations, while the survival improvement is still disappointing, with a high rate of toxicity [5]. The significant toxicity of cisplatin, which frequently produces nausea, vomiting, neurotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity, can also affect the treatment outcomes and quality of life in patients with advanced stage AGC.Meanwhile, the taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel) disrupt the microtubule function and inhibit the process of cell division, and have shown encouraging activity as a single or combination chemotherapy for the treatment of AGC [6,7]. Accordingly, this review focuses on the efficacy and tolerability of taxanes in a first-or second-line chemotherapy setting for AGC.

Despite numerous advances in treatment options, advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains a major public health issue and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Cisplatin is one of the most effective broad-spectrum anticancer drugs for AGC and a doublet combination regimen of either cisplatin-based or 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy is generally used for treatment of patients with AGC. However, there is still no consensus on the best regimen for treating AGC. Recently, various new chemotherapeutic agents, including oral 5FU, taxanes, and irinotecan, have been identified as improving the outcomes for AGC when used as a single agent or in combination with non-platinum chemotherapy. Nonetheless, it is still unclear whether non-platinum-based chemotherapy is a viable treatment option for patients with AGC. Accordingly, this review focuses on the efficacy and tolerability of non-platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with AGC.