Abstract
We studied the morphological changes of advanced gastric cancer in 10 cases responding to systemic chemotherapy. Endoscopic findings including the characteristics of ulcer base and the marginal swelling, the presence or absence of fold convergency and regenerative epithelium were studied serially in the following stages; before chemotherapy, when more than 50% (partial rosponse) of tumor reduction rate was observed (pre PR stage), and when partial or complete response was observed (PR stage, CR stage). Although we failed to find any uniform changes during chemotherapy like those seen in the course of benign ulcer healing, the morphological findings of the tumors in the PR stage could be classified into four types; no morphological change type, malignant fold type, mucosal change type and marginal swelling remaining type. Both the mean response period and survival period were found to be long in the following order; marginal swelling remaining type, mucosal change type, malignant fold type, no morphological change type. We, therefore, considered that the effect of chemotherapy on advanced gastric cancer could be evaluated by monitoring the morphological changes of tumors.
