As a mechanism of the rapid tumour regression in these cases, we have postulated that our regimen has an antiangiogenic effect, since it has been reported that docetaxel inhibits tumour angiogenesis by interfering with growth, migration and tubule formation of endothelial cells (Hotchkiss et al, 2002), and that the combination of S-1 with CDDP has shown a high RR in VEGF-positive gastric cancer (Hironaka et al, 2002). This evidence concerns the gene PSMD1 and gastric cancer.