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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2009; 15(36): 4593-4595
Published online Sep 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4593
Published online Sep 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4593
Repetitive response to gemcitabine that led to curative resection in cholangiocarcinoma
Seong Hun Kim, In Hee Kim, Sang Wook Kim, Seung-Ok Lee, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 561-712, South Korea
Author contributions: Kim SH and Lee SO designed this work; Kim SH, Kim IH, Kim SW and Lee SO analyzed references; Kim SH wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Seung-Ok Lee, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, 634-18, Geum-am dong, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 561-712, South Korea. solee@chonbuk.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-63-2501289 Fax: +82-63-2541609
Received: June 30, 2009
Revised: July 20, 2009
Accepted: July 27, 2009
Published online: September 28, 2009
Revised: July 20, 2009
Accepted: July 27, 2009
Published online: September 28, 2009
Abstract
This study reports a case of unresectable intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma which showed a dramatic response to gemcitabine that led to curative resection and a long-term survival of more than five years. Six and five cycles of gemcitabine monotherapy were administered separately over a three-year period and a radical excision was performed at 4.5 years after diagnosis. This case indicates the role of gemcitabine as a neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic agent for cholangiocarcinoma and guarantees a randomized controlled prospective study.
Keywords: Cholangiocarcinoma; Gemcitabine; Neoadjuvant chemotherapy