Long-term clinical outcomes of endoscopic vs. surgical resection for early gastric cancer with undifferentiated histology

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for undifferentiated type early gastric cancer over 2 cm with R0 resection

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for over 2 cm in size undifferentiated type (UD type) early gastric cancer (EGC) confined to the mucosa is not only challenging, but also long-term outcomes are not well known.

AIM

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of ESD done for UD type EGCs confined to the mucosa over 2 cm in size and compare the results with those where the lesions were less than 2 cm.

METHODS

143 patients with UD type EGC confirmed on histology after ESD at a tertiary hospital were reviewed. Cases with synchronous and metachronous lesions and a case with emergency surgery after ESD were excluded. A total of 137 cases were enrolled. 79 cases who underwent R0 resection were divided into 2 cm or less (group A) and over 2 cm (group B) in size.

RESULTS

Among 79 patients who underwent R0 resection, the number in group A and B were 51 and 28, respectively. The mean follow-up period (SD) was 79.71 ± 45.42 months. There was a local recurrence in group A (1/51, 2%) and group B (1/28, 3.6%) respectively. This patient in group A underwent surgery while the patient in group B underwent repeated ESD with no further recurrences in both patients. There was no regional lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and deaths in both groups. With R0 resection strategy for ESD on lesions over 2 cm, 20.4% (28/137) of patients were able to avoid surgery compared with expanded indication.

CONCLUSION

If R0 resection is achieved by ESD, UD type EGCs over 2 cm also showed good and similar clinical outcomes as compared to lesions less than 2 cm when followed for over 5 years. With R0 resection strategy, several patients can avoid surgery.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on endoscopic submucosal dissection for the management of early esophageal and gastric cancers: methodology and review of evidence

This document from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) provides a full description of the methodology used in the review of the evidence used to inform the final guidance outlined in the accompanying Summary and Recommendations document regarding the role of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the management of early esophageal and gastric cancers. This guideline used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework and specifically addresses the role of ESD versus EMR and/or surgery, where applicable, for the management of early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) and their corresponding precursor lesions. For ESCC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well-differentiated, nonulcerated cancer >15 mm, whereas in patients with similar lesions ≤15 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. The ASGE suggests against surgery for such patients with ESCC, whenever possible. For EAC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well-differentiated, nonulcerated cancer >20 mm, whereas in patients with similar lesions measuring ≤20 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. For GAC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well or moderately differentiated, nonulcerated intestinal type cancer measuring 20 to 30 mm, whereas for patients with similar lesions <20 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. The ASGE suggests against surgery for patients with such lesions measuring ≤30 mm, whereas for lesions that are poorly differentiated, regardless of size, the ASGE suggests surgical evaluation over endosic approaches.

A nomogram based on platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio for predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with early gastric cancer

Background

Preoperative assessment of the presence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) remains difficult. We aimed to develop a practical prediction model based on preoperative pathological data and inflammatory or nutrition-related indicators.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics of 1,061 patients with EGC who were randomly divided into the training set and validation set at a ratio of 7:3. In the training set, we introduced the least absolute selection and shrinkage operator (LASSO) algorithm and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors and construct the nomogram. Both internal validation and external validation were performed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), C-index, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

LNM occurred in 162 of 1,061 patients, and the rate of LNM was 15.27%. In the training set, four variables proved to be independent risk factors (p < 0.05) and were incorporated into the final model, including depth of invasion, tumor size, degree of differentiation, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). The AUC values were 0.775 and 0.792 for the training and validation groups, respectively. Both calibration curves showed great consistency in the predictive and actual values. The Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) test was carried out in two cohorts, showing excellent performance with p-value >0.05 (0.684422, 0.7403046). Decision curve analysis demonstrated a good clinical benefit in the respective set.

Conclusion

We established a preoperative nomogram including depth of invasion, tumor size, degree of differentiation, and PLR to predict LNM in EGC patients and achieved a good performance.

Risk of lymph node metastasis and feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection in undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Whether endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) applies to undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer (UEGC) remains controversial. We aimed to analyze the risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in UEGC and evaluate the feasibility of ESD.

METHODS

This study included 346 patients with UEGC who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2014 and December 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the correlation between clinicopathological features and LNM were conducted, and the risk factors for exceeding the expanded ESD indications were evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall LNM rate in UEGC was 19.94%. Among the preoperatively assessable factors, submucosal invasion (odds ratio [OR] = 4.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.14-10.66) and > 2 cm(OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.20-5.15) were independent risk factors for LNM, while postoperative independent risk factors were > 2 cm (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.02-5.40) and lymphovascular invasion(OR = 13.21, 95% CI: 5.18-33.70). Patients who met the expanded indications had a low LNM risk (4.1%). Additionally, tumors located in the cardia (P = 0.03), non-elevated type (P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for exceeding the expanded indications in UEGC.

CONCLUSIONS

ESD may be applicable for UEGC meeting the expanded indications, and preoperative evaluation should be cautious when the lesion is non-elevated type or located in the cardia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (12/05/2022 ChiCTR2200059841 ).

Comparisons of pathologic findings and outcomes of gastric cancer patients younger and older than 40: a propensity score matching study in a single center of Korea

Background and Aim

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with a high incidence rate in Korean men. However, comparative studies are scarce on the pathologic findings and treatment effects of GC in patients aged less than 40 years. We evaluated the characteristics and pathologic findings of GC patients aged younger and older than 40 years.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 2307 patients diagnosed with GC between January 2010 and May 2018. Eighty-eight (3.8%) and 2219 (96.2%) patients were younger and older than 40 years, respectively. The patients were divided into younger (n = 70) and older (n = 62) age groups through propensity matching.

Results

Overall, compared to the younger group, the older group (n = 2219) had a significantly higher proportion of male patients (66.7% vs 39.8%; P < 0.001) and patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) (2.3% vs 23.1%; P < 0.001). However, young patients more often underwent operations compared to older patients (78.4% vs 60.1%; P = 0.001). In the propensity-matched group, older patients more often showed differentiated carcinoma, including well-differentiated (5.7% vs 11.3%) and moderately differentiated (1.4% vs 32.3%). However, younger patients more often showed signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) (70.0% vs 25.8%). In multivariate analysis, Helicobacter pylori infection (odds ratio, 12.643; 95% confidence interval, 1.068-1449.665; P = 0.044) independently correlated with SRC risk.

Conclusions

Patients below 40 years were more likely to undergo surgery compared to ESD, and pathologic findings were more common in SRC. Therefore, more active screening and H. pylori eradication are needed even in patients aged less than 40 years.

Endoscopic Resection of Undifferentiated Early Gastric Cancer

Endoscopic resection (ER) is widely performed for early gastric cancer (EGC) with a negligible risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in Eastern Asian countries. In particular, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) leads to a high en bloc resection rate, enabling accurate pathological evaluation. As undifferentiated EGC (UD-EGC) is known to result in a higher incidence of LNM and infiltrative growth than differentiated EGC (D-EGC), the indications for ER are limited compared with those for D-EGC. Previously, clinical staging as intramucosal UD-EGC ≤2 cm, without ulceration, was presented as 'weakly recommended' or 'expanded indications' for ER in the guidelines of the United States, Europe, Korea, and Japan. Based on promising long-term outcomes from a prospective multicenter study by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) 1009/1010, the status of this indication has expanded and is now considered 'absolute indications' in the latest Japanese guidelines published in 2021. In this study, which comprised 275 patients with UD-EGC (cT1a, ≤2 cm, without ulceration) treated with ESD, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 99.3% (95% confidence interval, 97.1%-99.8%), which was higher than the threshold 5-year OS (89.9%). Currently, the levels of evidence grades and recommendations for ER of UD-EGC differ among Japan, Korea, and Western countries. Therefore, a further discussion is warranted to generalize the indications for ER of UD-EGC in countries besides Japan.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection versus surgery for patients with undifferentiated early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the standard treatment for differentiated early gastric cancer (EGC). However, its expanded indication for undifferentiated EGC is controversial. In this study, the efficacy and safety of ESD versus surgery in patients with undifferentiated EGC were compared.

METHODS

four databases were searched until February 24, 2022, for studies assessing patients with undifferentiated EGC that met an expanded indication for endoscopic resection and who were treated with ESD or surgery. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and any recurrence. Secondary outcomes were complete histological resection, local recurrence, metachronous recurrence, synchronous recurrence, distant metastasis, overall complication, and bleeding. All meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects models. Unadjusted (risk ratio [RR]) and adjusted (aRR and hazard ratio [aHR]) estimates with 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

seven cohort studies were included (n = 2637). The use of ESD was significantly associated with higher all-cause mortality compared to surgery (RR, 2.17; 95 % CI, 1.24-3.81); adjusted all-cause mortality effects were not significant (aRR, 2.28; 95 % CI, 0.95-5.47 and aHR, 1.97; 95 % CI, 0.85-4.53). ESD was associated with a higher risk of any recurrence using unadjusted (RR, 5.24; 95 % CI, 1.49-18.46) and adjusted (aRR, 7.89; 95 % CI, 1.52-40.95 and aHR, 3.73; 95 % CI, 1.17-11.90) estimates. The risk of local recurrence, synchronous recurrence and bleeding were significantly higher for ESD versus surgery. No significant differences were found for other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

although ESD is associated with a higher risk of any recurrence, adjusted all-cause mortality is similar during follow-up. Overall complications were similar between ESD and surgery.

Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer 2022: An Evidence-based, Multidisciplinary Approach

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in Korea and the world. Since 2004, this is the 4th gastric cancer guideline published in Korea which is the revised version of previous evidence-based approach in 2018. Current guideline is a collaborative work of the interdisciplinary working group including experts in the field of gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology and guideline development methodology. Total of 33 key questions were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group and 40 statements were developed according to the systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and KoreaMed database. The level of evidence and the grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation proposition. Evidence level, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability was considered as the significant factors for recommendation. The working group reviewed recommendations and discussed for consensus. In the earlier part, general consideration discusses screening, diagnosis and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. Flowchart is depicted with statements which is supported by meta-analysis and references. Since clinical trial and systematic review was not suitable for postoperative oncologic and nutritional follow-up, working group agreed to conduct a nationwide survey investigating the clinical practice of all tertiary or general hospitals in Korea. The purpose of this survey was to provide baseline information on follow up. Herein we present a multidisciplinary-evidence based gastric cancer guideline.

Long-term outcomes and clinical safety of expanded indication early gastric cancer treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection versus surgical resection: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) remains an investigational issue for early gastric cancer (EGC) with expanded indications owing to the risk of lymph node metastasis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety of ESD versus surgical resection (SR) for EGC with expanded indications.

METHODS

The systematic review selected studies from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science databases from 2010 to 2020, and compared survival and clinical safety data of ESD with those of surgical resection for EGC with expanded indications. The fixed-effects or random-effects model was used to calculate the differences between the two groups. To assess the validity of the eligible studies, risk of bias was measured using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.

RESULTS

Nine retrospective studies were used to calculate the differences in survival and clinical safety data between the two groups for EGC with expanded indications. Differences were not significant between the groups in terms of age, sex, tumour size, tumour histology or lesion morphology. Regarding tumour site, tumours located in the L area (the lower third of the stomach) were more likely to be found in the ESD group. With regard to metachronous and synchronous carcinomas, there was a significant difference favouring SR treatment (metachronous: OR=0.12, 95% CI=0.05 to 0.25, p<0.00001; synchronous: OR=0.11, 95% CI=0.02 to 0.46, p=0.003). Adverse event data were identified in six studies showing a significant difference favouring ESD treatment (ESD vs SR, OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.34 to 0.72. p=0.002). Additionally, six studies evaluating 5-year overall survival showed no significant differences between the two groups (HR=1.22, 95% CI=0.66 to 2.25, p=0.53). With regard to 5-year disease-free survival, patients with expanded indication EGC undergoing SR showed better survival (ESD vs SR, HR=3.29, 95% CI=1.60 to 6.76, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION

ESD provided favourable results for patients with EGC with expanded indications regarding clinical outcomes and safety in retrospective studies. Further, to detect synchronous or metachronous lesions, endoscopic surveillance should be performed following ESD. However, the included studies were observational, some did not have adequate adjustment for confounding factors and their results lacked generalisability due to their origin. Thus, further related randomised controlled trials are urgently encouraged.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021251068.

Endoscopic Resection Versus Surgery in the Treatment of Early Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Aim

Endoscopic resection (ER) is the preferred approach to treat early gastric cancer (EGC) in patients without suspected lymph node involvement and that meet the criteria for ER. Surgery is a more aggressive treatment, but it may be associated with less recurrence and the need for reintervention. Previous meta-analyses comparing ER with surgery for EGC did not incorporate the most recent studies, making accurate conclusions not possible.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine complete resection, length of hospital stay (LOHS), adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, recurrence, 5-year overall survival (OS), and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with EGC.

Results

A total of 29 cohorts studies involving 20559 patients were included. The ER (n = 7709) group was associated with a lower incidence of AEs (RD = -0.07, 95%CI = -0.1, -0.04, p < 0.0001) and shorter LOHS (95% CI -5.89, -5.32; p < 0,00001) compared to surgery (n = 12850). However, ER was associated with lower complete resection rates (RD = -0.1, 95%CI = -0.15, -0.06; p < 0.00001) and higher rates of recurrence (RD = 0.07, 95%CI = 0.06; p < 0.00001). There were no significant differences between surgery and ER in 5-year OS (RD = -0.01, 95%CI = -0.04, 0.02; p = 0.38), 5-year CSS (RD = 0.01, 95%CI = 0.00, 0.02; p < 0.17), and incidence of serious AEs (RD = -0.03, 95%CI = -0.08, 0.01; p = 0.13).

Conclusions

ER and surgery are safe and effective treatments for EGC. ER provides lower rates of AEs and shorter LOHS compared to surgery. Although ER is associated with lower complete resection rates and a higher risk of recurrence, the OS and CSS were similar between both approaches.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42021255328.

Diffuse-type Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor in Korea. Histologically, it is often classified into intestinal-type and diffuse-type. Intestinal-type gastric cancer is known to occur mainly from chronic gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) through atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, a precancerous change of the mucosa, whereas diffuse-type gastric cancer is caused by H. pylori infection, wherein active inflammation of the gastric mucosa occurs without precancerous changes in the mucosa. Compared with intestinal-type gastric cancer, it occurs at a young age, there is no difference in male to female ratio, or tends to occur more in women, and is more aggressive than intestinal-type gastric cancer. Intestinal-type gastric cancer is predominant in East Asian populations such as Koreans and Japanese, whereas diffuse-type gastric cancer has more uniform geographic distribution. In the present manuscript, I have reviewed diffuse-type gastric cancer, distinct from intestinal-type gastric cancer.

Comparison of long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection and surgery for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer meeting the expanded criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There have been concerns over the long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer (UD EGC). We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of ESD and surgery for patients with UD EGC.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases through March 2021 to identify studies that compared the long-term outcomes of ESD and surgery for UD EGC meeting expanded criteria for curative resection. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tool for non-randomized studies. The risk ratio (RR) was estimated using a fixed-effect model.

RESULTS

Overall, 1863 patients from five retrospective cohort studies, including 908 patients with propensity score matching (PSM), were eligible for meta-analysis. ESD was associated with inferior overall survival (OS) compared to surgery in the overall cohort (RR 2.11; 95% CI 1.26-3.55) but not in the PSM cohort (RR 1.18; 95% CI 0.60-2.32). In the PSM cohort, ESD had a lower disease-free survival (DFS) (RR 2.49; 95% CI 1.42-4.35) and higher recurrence (RR 12.61; 95% CI 3.43-46.37), gastric recurrence (RR 11.25; 95% CI 3.06-41.40), and extragastric recurrence (RR 4.23; 95% CI 0.47-37.93). Recurrence outcomes were similar between the overall and PSM cohorts. Disease-specific survival was not significantly different between the two groups in both the overall and PSM cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Although OS after curative ESD for UD EGC was not different from that after surgery in the PSM cohort, DFS and recurrence were inferior after ESD. Limitations included a lack of randomized trials. Further prospective studies comparing the long-term outcomes of ESD and surgery for UD EGC are needed (PROSPERO CRD 42021237097).

CDC42EP3 is a key promoter involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent cancers and severely endangers human health. Due to the low rate of diagnosis, most patients with gastric cancer are diagnosed as advanced. CDC42 effector protein 3 (CDC42EP3) has been revealed to be involved in several types of human cancers' development and progression. However, the function of CDC42EP3 in GC is not yet clear. CDC42EP3 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), qRT-PCR and Western blot assay in tumor tissues and cell lines of GC. CDC42EP3 knockdown cell models were constructed by lentivirus transfection. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the MTT assay. The wound-healing assay and the transwell assay were utilized to assess the cell migration. Also, the cell apoptosis and the cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry. Moreover, the mechanism was investigated by Human Apoptosis Antibody Array. The in vivo experiments were conducted to verify the effects of CDC42EP3 knockdown on the tumor growth of GC. The expression level of CDC42EP3 was up-regulated in tumor tissues. High CDC42EP3 expression was positively related to more advanced tumor grade. CDC42EP3 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and migration, promoted cell apoptosis and suppressed the tumor growth. On the other hand, it was also found that the silencing of CDC42EP3 inhibited HSP27 and IGF-1sR expression as well as promoted Caspase3, p53, TNF-α, TNF-β, TRAILR-1 and TRAILR-2 expression. CDC42EP3 was revealed to work as a tumor promoter in the development and progression of GC, which could be a promising therapeutic target for the therapy of GC.

Prediction model for curative endoscopic submucosal dissection of undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an effective treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC); however, its curative resection rate is low for undifferentiated-type EGC. We developed and externally validated a prediction model for curative ESD of undifferentiated-type EGC.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we included 448 patients who underwent ESD for undifferentiated-type EGC at 18 hospitals in Korea between 2005 and 2015 in the development cohort and 1342 patients who underwent surgery at two hospitals in the validation cohort. A prediction model was developed using the logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Endoscopic tumor size 1-2 cm (odds ratio [OR], 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.54-3.73), tumor size > 2 cm (OR, 14.00; 95% CI 6.81-28.77), and proximal tumor location from the lower to upper third of the stomach (OR, 1.45; 95% CI 1.03-2.04) were independent predictors of non-curative ESD. A six-score prediction model was developed by assigning points to endoscopic tumor size > 2 cm (five points), tumor size 1-2 cm (two points), upper third location (two points), and middle third location (one point). The rate of curative ESD ranged from 70.6% (score 0) to 11.6% (score 5) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.720 (95% CI 0.673-0.766). The model also showed good performance in the validation cohort (AUC, 0.775; 95% CI 0.748-0.803).

CONCLUSIONS

This six-score prediction model may help in predicting curative ESD and making informed decisions about the treatment selection between ESD and surgery for undifferentiated-type EGC.

Helicobacter pylori-negative Gastric Cancer

<i>Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)</i>-negative gastric cancer is diagnosed when gastric malignancies are found in patients in <i>H. pylori</i>-naïve stomachs. There are four types of noncardiac <i>H. pylori</i>-negative gastric cancers. The signet ring cell-type poorly cohesive carcinoma is most common, followed by the chief cell-predominant type gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland. Extremely well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the corpus and well-differentiated pyloric gland cancers are rare outside Japan because of country-specific differences in diagnostic criteria. In endemic areas of <i>H. pylori</i> infection, strict criteria are required for diagnosing an <i>H. pylori</i>-naïve stomach. Both invasive and noninvasive <i>H. pylori</i> tests should show negative results in a subject without a history of <i>H. pylori</i> infection. Furthermore, the serum pepsinogen (PG) assay and endoscopic findings of the background gastric mucosa are required to discriminate subjects with past infections owing to spontaneous regression or unintended eradication of <i>H. pylori</i>. There should be no gastric corpus atrophy (PG I ≤70 ng/mL and PG I/II ≤3.0). Gastroscopy should reveal a regular arrangement of collecting venules without gastric xanthoma, metaplastic gastritis, or advanced atrophy over the angle. On biopsy, there should be no gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, neutrophils, or <i>H. pylori</i> infiltration, and only a mild degree of mononuclear cell infiltration is permitted. The types and characteristics of noncardiac <i>H. pylori</i>-negative gastric cancers are summarized in this review, along with current diagnostic challenges found in Korea.

Characteristics of interval gastric neoplasms detected within two years after negative screening endoscopy among Koreans

Background

In Korea, where gastric cancer is highly prevalent, biennial endoscopy is recommended among individuals over 40. Even under regular screening, some are still diagnosed at advanced stages. We aimed to identify characteristics of interval gastric neoplasms (IGNs) with rapid progression.

Results

Newly-diagnosed gastric neoplasms detected in screening endoscopy between January 2004 and May 2016 were reviewed. Among them, those who had previous endoscopy within 2 years were enrolled. Endoscopic findings, family history of gastric cancer, smoking, and H. pylori status were analysed. Totally, 297 IGN cases were enrolled. Among them, 246 were endoscopically treatable IGN (ET-IGN) and 51 were endoscopically untreatable IGNs (EUT-IGN) by the expanded criteria for endoscopic submucosal dissection. Among EUT-IGNs, 78% were undifferentiated cancers (40/51) and 33% showed submucosal invasion (13/40). They were median 2.0 cm in size and more commonly located in the proximal stomach than ET-IGNs (70.6% vs. 41.9%, p < 0.001). EUT-IGN was independently related with age < 60 (OR, 2.09; 95%CI, 1.03–4.26, p = 0.042), H. pylori (OR, 2.81; 95%CI, 1.20–6.63, p = 0.018), and absent/mild gastric atrophy (OR, 2.67; 95%CI, 1.25–5.72, p = 0.011). Overall and disease-specific survival were not significantly different between the two groups, however EUT-IGN tended to have short disease-specific survival (overall survival, p = 0.143; disease-specific survival, p = 0.083).

Conclusions

Uniform screening endoscopy with two-year interval seems not enough for rapid-growing gastric neoplasms, such as undifferentiated cancers. They tended to develop in adults younger than 60 with H. pylori infection without severe gastric atrophy. More meticulous screening, especially for proximal lesions is warranted for adults younger than 60 with H. pylori infection before development of gastric atrophy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-07929-y.

A comprehensive update on early gastric cancer: defining terms, etiology, and alarming risk factors

INTRODUCTION

Early gastric cancer (EGC) is a well-defined gastric malignancy that is limited to the mucosa or submucosa, irrespective of lymph node metastasis. At an early stage, gastric cancer often does not cause symptoms until it becomes advanced, and it is a heterogeneous disease and usually encountered in its late stages.

AREA COVERED

This comprehensive review will provide a novel insight into the evaluation of EGC epidemiology, defining terms, extensive etiology and risk factors, and timely diagnosis since prevention is an essential approach for controlling this cancer and reducing its morbidity and mortality.

EXPERT OPINION

The causative manner of EGC is complex and multifactorial. In recent years, researchers have made significant contributions to understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of EGC, and standardization in the evaluation of disease activity. Though the incidence of this cancer is steadily declining in some advanced societies owing to appropriate interventions, there remains a serious threat to health in developing nations. Early detection of resectable gastric cancer is crucial for better patient outcomes.

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection versus Surgery for Undifferentiated-Type Early Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Aims

The use of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for treating undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer is controversial. The objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to compare the long-term outcomes of ESD and surgery for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer.

Methods

The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were used to search for relevant studies comparing ESD and surgery for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer. The methodological quality of the included publications was evaluated using the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Nonrandomized Studies. The rates of overall survival, recurrence, adverse event, and complete resection were determined. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were also evaluated.

Results

This meta-analysis enrolled five studies with 429 and 1,236 participants undergoing ESD and surgery, respectively. No significant difference was found in the overall survival rate between the ESD and surgery groups (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 0.98–5.36; p=0.06). However, ESD was associated with a higher recurrence rate and a lower complete resection rate. The adverse event rate was similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

ESD with meticulous surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy may be as effective and safe as surgery in patients with undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer. Further large-scale, randomized, controlled studies from additional regions are required to confirm these findings.

Incidence and prognosis of undifferentiated cancers of the digestive system: a population-based cohort study

Background

Cases of undifferentiated cancers of the digestive system (UCDS) are occasionally encountered in clinical practice; however, no large-scale studies have described their characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, prognosis, and treatment strategies of UCDS.

Methods

We used the data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to evaluate clinical characteristics in UCDS patients. A cohort of 1,372 patients was included to estimate UCDS incidence; another cohort of 1,816 patients was followed up until December 31, 2017 to evaluate treatment and prognosis. The incidence, trends, treatments, overall survival, and cause-specific survival were assessed.

Results

The estimated incidence of UCDS was 0.136 per 100,000 people-years [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.129-0.143] from 1975 to 2016 with respect to sex, age, year of diagnosis, race, region, site, income, and education. The age-adjusted rates of UCDS dropped from 0.567 per 100,000 people-years in 1978 to 0.031 per 100,000 people-years in 2016. The rates of surgery, beam radiation, and chemotherapy in patients with UCDS were 37.3%, 17.3%, and 30.7%, respectively. Overall, the 5-year cause-specific survival rate was 18%, with a median cause-specific survival of 4 months. Patient prognosis improved significantly over the decades; stage, site, year of diagnosis, surgery, beam radiation, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for UCDS mortality.

Conclusions

The incidence of UCDS has decreased in the United States over the past 40 years. Patients benefited from surgery, beam radiation, and chemotherapy. The survival of patients with UCDS has improved. Further research on developing decision-making recommendations for UCDS treatment is crucial.

Endoscopic Resection of Undifferentiated-type Early Gastric Cancer

Early detection of gastric cancer is crucial because the survival rate can be improved through curative treatment. Although surgery and gastrectomy with lymph node dissection remain as the gold standard for curative treatment, early gastric cancer (EGC) with negligible risk of lymph node metastasis can be treated with endoscopic resection (ER), such as endoscopic submucosal dissection. Among gastric cancers, undifferentiated-type cancer is distinguished from differentiated-type cancer in various aspects in terms of clinical features and pathophysiology. The undifferentiated-type cancer is also known to be associated with an aggressive behavior and a poor prognosis. Therefore, the indication of ER for undifferentiated EGC is limited compared with differentiated-type. Recent studies have reported that ER for undifferentiated EGC is safe and shows favorable short- and long-term outcomes. However, it is necessary to understand the details of the research results and to selectively accept them. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the current practice guidelines and the short-term and long-term outcomes of ER for undifferentiated type EGC.

Propensity score-matched comparison of short- and long-term outcomes between surgery and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for intestinal type early gastric cancer (EGC) of the middle and lower third of the stomach: a European tertiary referral center experience

BACKGROUND

Despite the comparable results between ESD and gastrectomy reported in multiple Asiatic studies, limited data are currently present on the long-term efficacy of ESD for EGC in Western countries. The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of the endoscopic submucosal dissection and surgery for non-diffuse early gastric cancer treatment in a Western cohort of patients.

METHODS

All patients with a diagnosis of intestinal type EGC located in the middle and lower third of the stomach from 2005 to 2015 were enrolled in the study. All patients completed a 5-year follow-up. Patients were divided according to the procedure performed (ESD/subtotal gastrectomy). The two groups were matched for age, gender, ASA score, tumor dimension, and grade of infiltration (mucosa/submucosa).

RESULTS

After matching, 84 patients (42 per group) were included in the analysis. Peri-procedural morbidity rate was 7.1% and no difference was observed between the two groups (4.8% vs 9.5% for ESD and STG groups, respectively; p = 0.3). Similar results in terms of 5-year OS and DFS were observed for ESD and STG (77.7% vs 71.8% ; p = 0.78 and 74.9% vs 72% ; p = 0.7, respectively). At the multivariate analysis, ASA3 score was recognized as the only negative predictor factor for the 5-year OS (OR 6.2; 95% CI 2.2-16.8; p < 0.001). Regarding the DFS, both ASA3 score (OR 4.4; 95% CI 1.7-10.9; p < 0.001) and submucosal infiltration(OR 5.1; 95% CI 1.2-22.4 ; p = 0.02) were identified as independent risk factors for a worse outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the safety and feasibility ESD for EGC treatment in a Western setting. In addition, this is one of the few reports showing comparable results both in terms of short- and long-term outcomes between ESD and surgery for intestinal type ECG treatment in Western countries.