A case of rectal cancer with distant lymph node metastases completely responding to postoperative chemotherapy with levofolinate combined with 5-fluorouracil

The patient was a 58-year-old female who had a cancer of the rectum with multiple lymph node metastases including paraaortic lymph nodes and Virchow lymph nodes. Abdominoperineal resection was performed palliatively. After the operation, weekly bolus of 5-fluorouracil combined with levofolinate was carried out. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, metastases of paraaortic lymph nodes and Virchow lymph nodes completely disappeared upon CT examination. Chemotherapy has continued for 14 months, and she is well and has maintained a complete response for more than 1 year. This case suggests that this combination chemotherapy of LV/5-FU, admitted in Japan, is effective against advanced colorectal cancer.