Additional surgery for non-curative resection after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric cancer: a retrospective analysis of 200 cases

Management of high risk T1 gastric adenocarcinoma following endoscopic resection

Endoscopic submucosal dissection has revolutionized the treatment of early gastric cancer. However, cases that do not meet the curability criteria have a higher risk of lymph node metastasis and salvage surgery is still considered the next treatment approach to increase the chance of cure. Nevertheless, not all high-risk resections entail the same level of risk, emphasizing the utmost importance of individualized stratification for further treatment. In this review, we aim to examine the current evidence concerning the management following a high-risk non-curative resection, highlighting the existing approaches, while also presenting upcoming strategies that attempt to improve patient outcomes, minimize adverse events, and provide a tailored management.

Risk factors of additional surgery after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The criteria for surgical intervention after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of early gastric cancer are unclear. We aimed to clarify the risk factors for residual cancer and lymph node metastasis after non-curative ESD and to identify recommendations for additional surgery.

METHODS

We collected data on 133 consecutive patients who underwent additional surgery after non-curative ESD of early gastric cancer at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2013 to July 2022. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to seek risk factors of residual cancer and lymph node metastasis.

RESULTS

The incidence rates of residual cancer and lymph node metastasis were 13.5% (18/133) and 10.5% (14/133), respectively. There was neither residual tumor nor lymph node metastasis in 104 (78.2%) cases. Multivariate analyses elucidated that horizontal margin was an independent risk factor for local residual cancer, whereas lymphatic infiltration was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis. Patients with mixed histological types were more likely to suffer lymph node metastasis and further undergo additional surgery after non-curative ESD than pure histological type.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was strongly recommended in patients with lymphatic infiltration after non-curative ESD of early gastric cancer. Patients with mixed histological type have a high propensity for lymph node metastasis and should be treated as a separate subtype.

Short-term efficacy of additional laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate short-term efficacy of direct laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy (LAG) versus non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) plus additional LAG for early gastric cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

286 patients were retrospectively assigned into two groups: direct LAG group (n = 255) and additional LAG (ESD plus LAG, n = 31) group. A 1:2 propensity score matching was performed to equalize relevant confounding factors between two groups for analysis.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients were successfully matched, including 62 in the direct LAG group and 31 in the additional LAG group. A significant (P = 0.013) difference existed in the drainage removal time between the additional LAG and direct LAG group (7 d vs. 6 d). Age, sex, tumor location and surgical approach were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with complications, with age ≥ 60 years (P = 0.002) and total gastrectomy (P = 0.011) as significant independent risk factors. A significant (P = 0.023) difference existed in the surgical time between the early and late groups (193.3 ± 37.6 min vs. 165.5 ± 25.1 min).

CONCLUSION

Additional LAG (D1 + lymphadenectomy) after ESD may be safe and effective even though non-curative ESD may prolong the drainage removal time and increase the difficulty of surgery.

Nomogram for pre-procedural prediction of non-curative endoscopic resection in patients with early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Non-curative resection (non-CR) after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) requires additional surgery due to the possibility of lymph node metastasis (LNM). Therefore, it is important to accurately predict the risk of non-CR to avoid unnecessary preoperative procedures. Thus, we aimed to develop and verify a nomogram to predict the risk of non-CR prior to ESD.

METHODS

Patients who underwent ESD for early gastric cancer (EGC) were divided into CR and non-CR groups based on the present ESD criteria. The pre-procedural factors, such as endoscopic features, radiologic findings, and pathology of the lesion, were compared between the groups to identify the risk factors associated with non-CR. A nomogram was developed using multivariate analysis, and its predictive value was assessed using an external validation group.

RESULTS

Among 824 patients, 682 were curative (82.7%) and 142 were non-curative (17.3%). By comparing two groups, endoscopic features including redness, whitish mucosal change, fold convergence, and large lesion size; histologic features such as moderately or poorly differentiated or signet ring cell carcinoma; and abnormal CT findings including non-specific lymph node enlargement and fold thickening were identified as significant predictors of non-CR. The nomogram was developed based on these predictors and showed good predictive performance in the external validation, with an area under the curve of 0.87.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a nomogram to predict the risk of non-CR prior to ESD. These predictive factors in addition to the existing ESD criteria can help provide the best treatment option for patients with EGC.

Risk Factors and Timing of Additional Surgery after Noncurative ESD for Early Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with early gastric cancer undergoing noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) have a risk of tumor recurrence and metastasis, and some patients need additional surgery. The purpose of this study was to explore the risk factors of cancer residue and lymph node (LN) metastasis after noncurative ESD for early gastric cancer and to compare the short outcome of early and delayed additional surgery.

METHODS

The clinicopathological characteristics of 30 early gastric cancer patients who received noncurative ESD and additional surgery were studied retrospectively. Multivariable regression was utilized to examine the independent risk factors for residual cancer and LN metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the multivariable model's predictive performance. Furthermore, the perioperative safety and radical tumor performance of early surgery (≤30 days, n = 11), delayed surgery (>30 days, n = 11) after ESD, and upfront surgery (n = 59) were compared.

RESULTS

Multivariable regression showed that diffuse type of Lauren classification, submucosal invasion, and positive human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) were risk factors for residual cancer. Undifferentiated carcinoma, vascular invasion, and positive vertical margin were risk factors for LN metastasis. The area under the curve (AUC) of the multifactor model predicting cancer residue and LN metastasis was 0.761 and 0.792, respectively. The early surgery group experienced higher intraoperative blood loss and a longer operation time than the delayed surgery and upfront surgery groups. There was no significant difference in the number of LN dissections, LN metastasis rate, and postoperative complications among the three groups.

CONCLUSION

Diffuse type of Lauren classification, submucosal invasion, and positive HER-2 are risk factors for residual cancer, while undifferentiated carcinoma, vascular invasion, and positive vertical margin are risk factors for LN metastasis. Delayed additional surgery after ESD (>30 days) has higher intraoperative safety, without affecting the radical resection in early gastric cancer patients.

Clinical significance of additional gastrectomy after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer: a retrospective single-center study

Purpose

Additional surgery is recommended for patients after a non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to prevent residual cancer (RC) or lymph node metastasis (LNM). We aimed to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients who underwent an additional gastrectomy after a non-curative ESD procedure and identify the risk factors of RC and LNM.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed the clinicopathological factors of 73 patients who underwent additional gastrectomy following a non-curative ESD between January 2009 and December 2019 at our center.

Results

RC and LNM rates after additional gastrectomy were 9.6% and 8.2%, respectively. Invasion deeper than 500 μm (P=0.045), positive horizontal resection margin (P<0.001), and positive ESD margin (P=0.001) were identified as statistically significant factors in univariate analysis for RC, but not in multivariate analysis. Lymphatic invasion was the only risk factor found to be significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses (P=0.005 and P=0.012).

Conclusion

Additional gastrectomy is necessary to prevent RC or LNM after non-curative ESD. Lymphatic invasion was also associated with LNM in patients who underwent an additional gastrectomy after a non-curative ESD, and in such cases, active treatment is required.

Determination of Additional Surgery after Non-Curative Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Patients with Early Gastric Cancer: A Practically Modified Application of the eCura System

Simple Summary

Recent treatment guidelines for gastric cancer recommended additional surgery for patients with non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, this strategy may be too excessive since few patients have lymph node metastasis (LNM). In this study, we modified the eCura system, a risk-scoring system for LNM after non-curative ESD, by classifying lymphatic invasion and venous invasion as a single entity of lymphovascular invasion. By using the modified eCura system, patients after non-curative ESD were simply categorized into high- and low-risk groups as lymph node metastasis depending on whether the tumor had lymphovascular invasion and other risk factors or not. Moreover, there was no intermediate-risk group, which could not recommend the appropriate treatment modality in the eCura system.

Abstract

Background: Additional surgery after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) may be excessive as few patients have lymph node metastasis (LNM). It is necessary to develop a risk stratification system for LNM after non-curative ESD, such as the eCura system, which was introduced in the Japanese gastric cancer treatment guidelines. However, the eCura system requires venous and lymphatic invasion to be separately assessed, which is difficult to distinguish without special immunostaining. In this study, we practically modified the eCura system by classifying lymphatic and venous invasion as lymphovascular invasion (LVI). Method: We retrospectively reviewed 543 gastric cancer patients who underwent radical gastrectomy after non-curative ESD between 2006 and 2019. LNM was evaluated according to LVI as well as size >30 mm, submucosal invasion ≥500 µm, and vertical margin involvement, which were used in the eCura system. Results: LNM was present in 8.1% of patients; 3.6%, 2.3%, 7.4%, 18.3%, and 61.5% of patients with no, one, two, three, and four risk factors had LNM, respectively. The LNM rate in the patients with no risk factors (3.6%) was not significantly different from that in patients with one risk factor (2.3%, p = 0.523). Among patients with two risk factors, the LNM rate without LVI was significantly lower than with LVI (2.4% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.027). Among patients with three risk factors, the LNM rate without LVI was lower than with LVI (0% vs. 20.8%, p = 0.195), although not statistically significantly. Based on LNM rates according to risk factors, patients with LVI and other factors were assigned to the high-risk group (LNM, 17.4%) while other patients as a low-risk group (LNM, 2.4%). Conclusions: Modifying the eCura system by classifying lymphatic and venous invasion as LVI successfully stratified LNM risk after non-curative ESD. Moreover, the high-risk group can be simply identified based on LVI and the presence of other risk factors.

Impact of non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection on short- and long-term outcome of subsequent laparoscopic gastrectomy for pT1 gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The feasibility and oncological safety of non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) prior to additional gastrectomy for early gastric cancer (EGC) are still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of non-curative ESD on short- and long-term outcomes of subsequent laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for pathological T1 (pT1) EGC.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated 422 patients who underwent LG for pT1 EGC between January 2007 and December 2017 at our center. Eighty-five of these patients underwent ESD with curative intent before surgery. Using propensity-score matching for sex, age, body mass index, American society of anesthesiologists score, history of previous abdominal surgery, tumor location, mucosal/submucosal infiltration, histology, lymph node metastasis, extent of lymph node dissection, operative method, lymphatic invasion, and venous invasion, the clinicopathologic and survival data of these patients were compared.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 60 (range 2-168) months. Using propensity-score matching from a total of 422 patients, 75 patients were selected in the Non-ESD and the ESD cohorts each. There were no significant differences in terms of characteristics and clinicopathological findings between the two groups. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in postoperative morbidity (13.3% vs. 17.3%; P = 0.497) and mortality (1.3% vs. 0%; P = 0.316). Both the 5-year overall survival ratio (88.8% vs. 86.9%; P = 0.757) and 5-year disease-specific survival ratio (97.1% vs. 98.4%; P = 0.333) were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Short- and long-term outcomes of LG in patients with pT1 EGC are not related to preoperative ESD history. Even for non-curative resections, ESD prior to surgery is feasible in terms of oncological and surgical outcomes in pT1 EGC.

Endoscopic instruments and techniques in endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer

Introduction: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a less invasive local treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC).Areas covered: Japanese guidelines have recently expanded the endoscopic treatment indications for EGC. ESD is sometimes performed for lesions with a relative indication that has not previously been considered for ESD. ESD procedures are technically difficult, especially for larger and more invasive lesions. Complete resection and accurate histological assessment of EGC lesions are essential to evaluate endoscopic curability. Various endoscopic instruments, including three types of endoscopic knives and specific hemostatic forceps, have been developed, and endoscopic techniques, including the traction method, have been modified to simplify the procedure.Expert opinion: An insulated-tip knife with large tissue contact allows us to perform faster incisions, while a needle-type knife with minimal tissue contact allows us to perform precise incisions. Furthermore, a scissor-type knife with grasping tissues allows us to perform more secure incision. The traction method enables the operator to proceed with submucosal dissection procedures. In cases with small lesions, snaring can be used, as well as knife dissection. Understanding the features of each endoscopic instrument and technique is essential because appropriate selection and usage contribute to successful and safe ESD procedures.

Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of gastric dysplasia and early cancer: Current evidence and what the future may hold

Gastric cancer accounts for a significant proportion of worldwide cancer-related morbidity and mortality. The well documented precancerous cascade provides an opportunity for clinicians to detect and treat gastric cancers at an endoscopically curable stage. In high prevalence regions such as Japan and Korea, this has led to the implementation of population screening programs. However, guidelines remain ambiguous in lower prevalence regions. In recent years, there have been many advances in the endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions. More advanced endoscopic imaging has led to improved detection and characterization of gastric lesions as well as superior accuracy for delineation of margins prior to resection. In addition, promising early data on artificial intelligence in gastroscopy suggests a future role for this technology in maximizing the yield of advanced endoscopic imaging. Data on endoscopic resection (ER) are particularly robust in Japan and Korea, with high rates of curative ER and markedly reduced procedural morbidity. However, there is a shortage of data in other regions to support the applicability of protocols from these high prevalence countries. Future advances in endoscopic therapeutics will likely lead to further expansion of the current indications for ER, as both technology and proceduralist expertise continue to grow.

Factors associated with overall survival in early gastric cancer patients who underwent additional surgery after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND

Controversy exists about the benefit of additional surgery after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC).

AIM

To examine risk factors for overall survival (OS) after additional surgery in patients with EGC who initially underwent ESD.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of patients with EGC who underwent additional surgery after ESD at the Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University between August 2012 and August 2019. OS was the primary outcome. Lymph node metastasis and residual tumor were secondary outcomes. Logistic regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves were used for further analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients were evaluated, including 35 (83.3%) males and 7(16.7%) females. The mean age was 62 (range, 32-82) years. Male sex [hazard ratio (HR) = 21.906, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.762-229.250; P = 0.039), T1b invasion (HR = 3.965, 95%CI: 1.109-17.432; P = 0.047), undifferentiated tumor (HR = 9.455, 95%CI: 0.946-29.482; P = 0.049), lymph node metastasis (HR = 2.126, 95%CI: 0.002-13.266; P = 0.031), and residual tumor (HR = 4.275, 95%CI: 1.049-27.420; P = 0.043) were independently associated with OS. The follow-up duration was 4-81 mo (median: 50.7 mo). OS was 77.0 ± 12.1 mo (95%CI: 53.3-100.7 mo). The 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 94.1% and 85%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Male sex, T1b invasion, undifferentiated tumor, lymph node metastasis, and residual tumor are independently associated with OS in patients with EGC who underwent additional surgery after ESD.

Controversies in EUS: Do we need miniprobes?

This is the fifth in a series of papers entitled "Controversies in EUS." In the current paper, we deal with high-resolution catheter probes, otherwise known as EUS miniprobes (EUS-MPs). The application of miniprobes for early carcinomas in the entire intestinal tract, for subepithelial lesions, and for findings in the bile duct and pancreatic duct as well as endobronchial use is critically discussed. Submucous lesions, especially in the colon, but also early carcinomas in special cases are considered the most important indications. The argument is illustrated by numerous examples.

Prevalence and risk factors for lymph node metastasis after noncurative endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Additional surgery for all patients with noncurative resection after endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) may be excessive due to the relatively low rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in such patients. However, the prevalence and risk factors for LNM after noncurative ER have not been consistent across studies.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of electronic databases through August 10, 2018 to identify cohort studies with patients who underwent additional surgery after noncurative ER for EGC. The prevalence of LNM in such patients was extracted for all studies. Odds ratios (ORs) were combined using random-effects meta-analyses to assess the risk of LNM, when possible.

RESULTS

We identified 24 studies comprising 3877 patients with 311 having LNM (pooled prevalence, 8.1%). The risk of LNM was significantly increased in lymphatic invasion (OR [95% confidence interval] = 4.22 [2.88-6.19]), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (4.17 [2.90-5.99]), vascular invasion (2.38 [1.65-3.44]), positive vertical margin (2.16 [1.59-2.93]), submucosal invasion depth of ≥ 500 μm (2.14 [1.48-3.09]), and tumor size > 30 mm (1.77 [1.31-2.40]). In contrast, there was no significant association between undifferentiated-type or ulceration (scar) and LNM. When studies were restricted to those that evaluated the adjusted OR, the risk of vascular invasion for LNM did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Several pathological factors, most notably lymphatic invasion and LVI, were associated with LNM in patients with noncurative resection after ER for EGC. Lymphatic and vascular invasion should be assessed separately instead of LVI (PROSPERO CRD42018109996).

A Recent Argument for the Use of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancers

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has become the standard treatment method for early gastric cancers (EGCs) due to the negligible risk for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in Eastern Asian countries. According to the guidelines, the curability of EGC after endoscopic resection was classified into three groups: curative resection, expanded curative resection, and noncurative resection. In Eastern Asian countries, a structured follow-up schedule is needed for patients undergoing curative resection and expanded curative resection. Conversely, in Western countries, additional surgery may be recommended for some patients undergoing expanded curative resection (ulcerated, undifferentiated, or slight submucosal invasion) due to the potential risk for LNM, even though specimens of ESD and surgery may not be handled with the same methodology as that used in Japan, which may lead to this slightly higher risk. In noncurative resection, additional surgery is the standard method after ESD because of the risk for LNM. However, in elderly patients and/or those with severe underlying diseases, the advantages and disadvantages of additional surgery should be considered when selecting a post-ESD treatment strategy for patients undergoing noncurative resection. Risk-scoring systems for LNM may facilitate clinical decisions for these patients. However, it should be noted that when recurrence was detected in patients who were followed up with no additional treatment after ESD with noncurative resection, most of them had a poor prognosis. To select an appropriate treatment method, especially in elderly patients undergoing ESD with noncurative resection, a new tool for evaluating the condition of patients should be established.

High-Risk Comorbidity Influences Prognosis in Early Gastric Cancer after Noncurative Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

There are few studies reporting the clinical outcomes of noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) from the perspective of patient health condition/status. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes of noncurative ESD considering not only curability but also patient factors such as advanced age, comorbidities, and nutritional status.

METHODS

Between April 2007 and March 2012, 95 patients who underwent noncurative ESD for EGC were enrolled in the study. Patients were categorized by treatment after ESD: additional gastrectomy (49 patients) and follow-up (46 patients). Clinical outcomes were evaluated between the 2 groups for overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The absence of lymphovascular involvement and age ≥80 years were significantly associated with decision-making for observation after noncurative ESD. The OS rates were higher in female patients, patients with better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (≤1) or low-risk comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI ≤ 2]), patients with ulcerative findings, and those who underwent radical gastrectomy. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that presence of a high-risk comorbidity (CCI ≥ 3) was a significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio: 16.43, p = 0.024) in patients who underwent noncurative ESD for EGC.

CONCLUSION

High-risk comorbidity is the primary prognostic parameter in terms of patient factors after noncurative ESD for EGC. The CCI should be considered as a prognostic factor in patients who underwent noncurative ESD for EGC.

Predictors of lymph node metastasis and residual tumor in early gastric cancer patients after noncurative endoscopic resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

It is challenging to identify the prevalence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and residual tumor in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) who underwent noncurative endoscopic resection (ER). This present meta-analysis was aimed to establish imperative potential predictive factors in order to select the optimal treatment method.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed through 1 February 2019 to identify relevant studies, which investigated risk factors for LNM and residual tumor in patients with EGC who underwent noncurative ER. Eligible data were systematically reviewed through a meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 12 studies investigating the risk factor of LNM were included, totaling 3015 patients, 7 of which also involved cancer residues. After the present meta-analysis, six predictors, including tumor size >30 mm, tumor invasion depth (⩾500 μm from the muscularis mucosae), macroscopic appearance, undifferentiated histopathological type, positive vertical margin, and presence of lymphovascular invasion (including lymphatic invasion and vascular invasion) were significantly associated with LNM, whereas tumor size >30 mm, positive horizontal margin, and positive vertical margin were identified as significant predictors for the risk of residual tumor. No evidence of publication bias was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Six and three variables were established as significant risk factors for LNM and residual tumor in patients with EGC who underwent noncurative ER, respectively. Patients with EGC who present these risk factors after noncurative ER are strongly suggested to receive additional surgery, while others might be suitable for strict follow-up. This might shed some new light on the selection of follow-up treatment for noncurative ER.

Minimally invasive approaches for early gastric cancer in East Asia: current status and future perspective

East Asia is well known as a region with higher incidences of gastric cancer compared with the rest of the world. This region has also experienced a rise in the detection of early gastric cancer (EGC) for the past three decades. The success of nationwide screening programs conducted in Japan or South Korea, increasing public awareness of gastric cancer, improved diagnostic ability of gastroenterologists and the aging population of modern societies may all contribute to the increase in EGC detection rates. Along with the increasing diagnosis of EGC, several key advances in the minimally invasive approach to EGC treatment have been made. Endoscopic resection is an ideal procedure for lesions without lymph node involvement, and its indications have expanded based on the results of prospective studies. Laparoscopic surgery with lymph node dissection has been becoming a standard treatment for EGC patients. Additionally, robot-assisted surgery is penetrating the field of gastric cancer surgery as surgeons pursue a more accurate minimally invasive approach with reduced morbidity rates. However, prolonged operation time and high cost remain problems to be solved for robot-assisted surgery. In this context, function-preserving surgery has become ever more important and should be considered as a method to enhance patients' quality of life after a gastrectomy for EGC. Pylorus-preserving gastrectomy or proximal gastrectomy is more frequently employed in East Asia and strategies that employ sentinel node (SN) navigation to personalize function-preserving surgery in clinical practice are emerging as several prospective studies investigate its efficacy.

Accuracy of the revised Vienna Classification for predicting postendoscopic resection outcomes for gastric and oesophageal neoplasms: a retrospective cohort study of patients from a UK tertiary referral centre

AIMS

To review the effectiveness of the revised Vienna classification (rVC) at predicting histological outcome and defining the postendoscopic resection (ER) clinical management plan of gastro-oesophageal dysplasia and early neoplasia in a UK tertiary-centre population.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study between November 2011 and May 2018. 157 patients from Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust in the UK were included. The primary outcome was the histological results of postsurgical resection (SR) specimens compared with their post-ER rVC. The secondary outcome was overall survival rates of patients with category 4.4 and 5 of the rVC.

RESULTS

One-hundred and thirteen patients were diagnosed with category ≥4 of the rVC. 23 patients (20.4%) were referred for additional surgery, whereas 69 patients (61.1%) were on endoscopic surveillance only. 60.9% of post-SR specimens (14/23) revealed no residual neoplasia. 78.6% of these cancer-free specimens were classed as category 5 rVC. The overall 7-year survival rate of 25 patients with category ≥4.4 was 68% with causes of mortality not linked to upper gastrointestinal neoplasia. The overall 7-year and 3-year survival rates of category 4.4 and 5 were 73.6% and 50%, respectively, although age and comorbid state played a role.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence of outcomes comparable to other reported cohorts for cases after ER in a single-centre UK population even at rVC 4.4/5. It suggests surgery may not be necessary in all cases due to the lack of residual disease and further refinement of the rVC category 5 may help guide management.

History and future perspectives in Japanese guidelines for endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer

Japanese guidelines for gastric cancer treatment were first published in 2001 for the purpose of showing the appropriate indication for each treatment method, thereby reducing differences in the therapeutic approach among institutions, and so on. With the accumulation of evidence and the development and prevalence of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), the criteria for the indication and curability of endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) have expanded. However, several problems still remain. Although a risk-scoring system (eCura system) for predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) may help treatment decision in patients who do not meet the curative criteria for ER of EGC, which is referred to as eCura C-2 in the latest guidelines, additional gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy may be excessive for many patients, even those at high risk for LNM. Less-invasive function-preserving surgery, such as non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery with laparoscopic sentinel node sampling, may overcome this problem. In addition, further less-invasive treatment, such as ER with chemotherapy, should be established for patients who prefer not to undergo additional gastrectomy.

Is Additional Surgery Necessary After Non-Curative Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Colorectal Cancer?

BACKGROUND

Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is considered to be a curative treatment for early colorectal cancer, additional surgery with lymph node dissection is routinely recommended for patients treated in non-curative ESD, owing to the risk of residual cancer and lymph node metastasis (LNM). However, in clinical practice, few patients are found to have either residual cancer or LNM after additional surgery. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the risk factors associated with residual cancer and LNM.

METHODS

Patients with early colorectal cancer after non-curative ESD and additional surgery from January 2015 to May 2019 were retrospectively identified. Clinicopathological characteristics were collected to determine the predictors of residual cancer and LNM.

RESULTS

A total of 62 patients were enrolled for analysis in this study. After additional surgery, residual cancer and LNM was detected in 12 patients (19.35%). Clinicopathological comparison of patients with the presence or absence of residual cancer and LNM demonstrated that piecemeal resection (80% vs. 14.04%, P < 0.001), submucosal invasion greater than 2000 μm (26.09% vs. 0%, P = 0.026), lymphovascular infiltration (37.5% vs. 13.04%, P = 0.033), and perineuronal invasion (75% vs. 15.52%, P = 0.004) were more frequent in residual cancer and LNM cases. Multivariate analysis identified lymphovascular infiltration (P = 0.031) as the only significantly independent risk factor associated with residual cancer and LNM.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional surgery with lymphadenectomy should be performed after non-curative ESD owing to the high risk of residual cancer and LNM, especially in cases with lymphovascular infiltration.

Intramucosal-lymphatic invasion has a slight impact on lymph node metastasis in patients with early gastric cancer

PURPOSE

Lymphatic invasion (LI) is associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and a poor prognosis in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). Although the impact of the LI volume on LNM has been described, no reports have assessed the impact of its depth on LNM.

METHODS

A total of 360 EGC patients with pathologically proven LI who underwent radical gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy between January 2005 and June 2018 at our institution were extracted from our database. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the mLI group, in which LI was limited to the muscularis mucosae (n = 34); and the smLI group, in which LI reached the submucosal region (n = 326). Clinicopathological features, including the LNM incidence, were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

LNM was recognized in 3 patients (9%) in the mLI group and 101 (31%) in the smLI group (P = 0.005). In the mLI group, LNM was not recorded in any patients who met the curative criteria of ESD other than mLI.

CONCLUSIONS

LI limited to the mucosal region does not seem to be a strong indicator for LNM. When pathological findings of an endoscopic submucosal dissection specimen show only mLI as a non-curative criterion, the probability of LNM may be very low.

Negative Impact of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection on Short-Term Surgical Outcomes of Subsequent Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric cancer produces an artificial ulcer, and negative effects on the surgical outcomes of additional gastrectomy after ESD are anticipated. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of ESD on subsequent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy procedures and to compare the surgical results of post-ESD patients with the control group using propensity score (PS) methods.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 2013 to 2018, 1446 patients underwent totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in our center. Among these patients, the clinicopathological factors and short-term surgical outcomes of 107 patients who underwent ESD before surgery (the ESD group) were evaluated. A 1:4 PS matching and inverse probability weighting method was utilized to compare the short-term surgical outcomes of the ESD group with those of a matched control group.

RESULTS

A longer operation time was required for the patients who underwent gastrectomy earlier than 24 days after ESD than for the patients who did not. Patients whose ulcer size, due to previous ESD, exceeded 4.6 cm required longer operation times and exhibited more intraoperative blood loss than patients whose ulcer size was small. In the PS matching analysis, patients who underwent distal gastrectomy within 24 days after ESD showed more frequent postoperative morbidity than non-ESD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

ESD after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is largely safe in terms of short-term surgical outcomes, but a short interval between the two procedures and a large ESD scar can make subsequent operation difficult.

Additional laparoscopic gastrectomy after noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer: A single-center experience

BACKGROUND

The necessity of additional gastrectomy for early gastric cancer (EGC) patients who do not meet curative criteria after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is controversial.

AIM

To examine the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients who underwent additional laparoscopic gastrectomy after ESD and to determine the appropriate strategy for treating those after noncurative ESD.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 45 patients with EGC who underwent additional laparoscopic gastrectomy after noncurative ESD from January 2013 to January 2019 at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. We analyzed the patients’ clinicopathological data and identified the predictors of residual cancer (RC) and lymph node metastasis (LNM).

RESULTS

Surgical specimens showed RC in ten (22.2%) patients and LNM in five (11.1%). Multivariate analysis revealed that positive horizontal margin [odds ratio (OR) = 13.393, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.435-125, P = 0.023] and neural invasion (OR = 14.714, 95%CI: 1.087-199, P = 0.043) were independent risk factors for RC. Undifferentiated type was an independent risk factor for LNM (OR = 12.000, 95%CI: 1.197-120, P = 0.035). Tumors in all patients with LNM showed submucosal invasion more than 500 µm. Postoperative complications after additional laparoscopic gastrectomy occurred in five (11.1%) patients, and no deaths occurred among patients with complications.

CONCLUSION

Gastrectomy is necessary not only for patients who have a positive margin after ESD, but also for cases with neural invasion, undifferentiated type, and submucosal invasion more than 500 µm. Laparoscopic gastrectomy is a safe, minimally invasive, and feasible procedure for additional surgery after noncurative ESD. However, further studies are needed to apply these results to clinical practice.

Risk Factors Associated with Lymph Node Metastasis for Early Gastric Cancer Patients Who Underwent Non-curative Endoscopic Resection: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recently, increased evidence indicated that additional surgery should be performed in highly selected patients with non-curative endoscopic resection. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis for the patients with non-curative endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer.

METHODS

The related studies were identified by searching PubMed and Embase databases. According to the status of lymph node metastasis, all patients were classified into node-negative group and node-positive group. The relevant clinicopathologic factors were extracted, and the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were assessed using a fixed effects model or random effects model.

RESULTS

A total of nine relevant studies involving 1720 early gastric cancer patients who underwent additional surgery following the non-curative endoscopic resection were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that deeper submucosal invasion (SM2) (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.94-6.10, P < 0.001; I² = 0%), positive vertical margin (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.57-3.53, P < 0.001; I² = 0%), lymphatic invasion (OR 11.06, 95% CI 5.47-22.36, P < 0.001; I² = 0%), and vascular invasion (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.68-4.64, P < 0.001; I² = 0%) were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis for these patients. However, horizontal margin, tumor size, differentiation type, and ulceration were not identified as risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, deeper submucosal invasion (SM2), and positive vertical margin should be strongly considered in selecting the candidates for additional surgery treatment.

Gastric lymphatic flows may change before and after endoscopic submucosal dissection: in vivo porcine survival models

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

Standard gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy is recommended following endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) due to the risk of lymph-node metastasis for resected cancers. However, when lymphatic flows remain unchanged after ESD, a minimally invasive function-preserving surgery based on the sentinel node (SN) concept may be applicable. In this study, using porcine survival models, we aimed to investigate whether gastric lymphatic flows were modified following ESD.

METHODS

Twelve pigs, each with one simulating lesion 3 cm in size, were used. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluid was endoscopically injected into the submucosa in four quadrants surrounding the lesion. Following laparoscopic observation of lymphatic flows, the lesions were resected by ESD. After 4 weeks, ICG fluid was injected in four quadrants surrounding the scar and lymphatic flows were observed in the same manner as the initial procedure. The distribution of lymphatic flows, including stained SNs, was compared.

RESULTS

In ten lesions (83.3%), the distribution of flows remained unchanged. However, in one lesion, the flow along the right gastric epiploic artery (R-GEA) disappeared on the lesser curvature of the middle stomach. In addition, in one lesion, the flow along R-GEA emerged on the lesser curvature of the lower stomach.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that, despite ESD, lymphatic flows remained unchanged in most parts of the stomach. The SN concept may be applied after ESD, except for lesions on the lesser curvature. However, in the case of the lesser curvature, special care must be given to the SN concept.

Different risk factors between early and late cancer recurrences in patients without additional surgery after noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cancer recurrence is observed in some patients without additional radical surgery after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) that does not fulfill the curability criteria for early gastric cancer (EGC), categorized as "noncurative resection" or "curability C-2" in the guidelines. However, time to cancer recurrence is different in such patients. Thus, we aimed to identify the risk factors of early and late cancer recurrences in these patients.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2011, this multicenter study analyzed 905 patients who were followed up without additional radical surgery after ESD for EGC categorized as curability C-2. We evaluated the risk factors for early and late cancer recurrences, separately, after ESD. The cut-off value was defined at 2 years.

RESULTS

Time to cancer recurrence in the enrolled patients showed a bimodal pattern, and the 5-year cancer recurrence rate was 3.2%. Multivariate Cox analyses revealed that lymphatic invasion (hazard ratio [HR], 8.56; P = .003) was the sole independent risk factor for early cancer recurrence. Regarding late cancer recurrence, vascular invasion (HR, 4.50; P = .039) was an independent risk factor, and lymphatic invasion tended to be a risk factor (HR, 3.63; P = .069).

CONCLUSIONS

This multicenter study with a large cohort demonstrated that lymphatic invasion is mainly associated with early cancer recurrence; however, vascular invasion was a risk factor only for late recurrence in patients without additional treatment after ESD for EGC categorized as curability C-2. This finding may contribute to decision making for treatment strategies after ESD, especially for patients with a relatively short life expectancy.

Additional gastrectomy in early-stage gastric cancer after non-curative endoscopic resection: a meta-analysis

Background and objective

The role of additional gastrectomy after non-curative endoscopic resection remains uncertain. The present meta-analysis aimed to explore the risk factors for early-stage gastric-cancer patients after non-curative endoscopic resection and evaluate the efficacy of additional gastrectomy.

Methods

Relevant studies that reported additional gastrectomy after non-curative endoscopic resection were comprehensively searched in MedLine, Web of Science and EMBASE. We first investigated the risk factors for residual tumor and lymph-node metastasis after non-curative endoscopic resection and then analysed the survival outcome, including 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival, of additional gastrectomy.

Results

Twenty-one studies comprising 4870 cases were included in the present study. We found that residual tumor was associated with larger tumor size (>3 cm) (odds ratio [OR] = 2.81, P < 0.001), undifferentiated tumor type (OR = 1.78, P = 0.011) and positive horizontal margin (OR = 9.78, P < 0.001). Lymph-node metastasis was associated with larger tumor size (>3 cm) (OR = 1.73, P < 0.001), elevated tumor type (OR = 1.60, P = 0.035), deeper tumor invasion (>SM1) (OR = 2.68, P < 0.001), lymphatic invasion (OR = 4.65, P < 0.001) and positive vertical margin (OR = 2.30, P < 0.001). Patients who underwent additional gastrectomy had longer 5-year OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.34, P < 0.001), 5-year disease-free survival (HR = 0.52, P = 0.001) and 5-year disease-specific survival (HR = 0.50, P < 0.001) than those who did not. Moreover, elderly patients also benefited from additional gastrectomy regarding 5-year OS (HR = 0.41, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Additional gastrectomy with lymph-node dissection might improve the survival of early-stage gastric-cancer patients after non-curative endoscopic resection. However, risk stratification should be performed to avoid excessive treatment.

The Role of an Undifferentiated Component in Submucosal Invasion and Submucosal Invasion Depth After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The role of an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion and submucosal invasion depth (SID) for lymph node metastasis (LNM) of early gastric cancer (EGC) with deep submucosal invasion (SID ≥500 μm from the muscularis mucosa) after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has not been fully understood. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors (RFs), including these factors, for LNM in such patients.

METHODS

We enrolled 513 patients who underwent radical surgery after ESD for EGC with deep submucosal invasion. We evaluated RFs for LNM, including an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion and the SID, which was subdivided into 500-999, 1,000-1,499, 1,500-1,999, and ≥2,000 µm.

RESULTS

LNM was detected in 7.6% of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion (OR 2.22), in addition to tumor size >30 mm (OR 2.51) and lymphatic invasion (OR 3.07), were the independent RFs for LNM. However, the SID was not significantly associated with LNM.

CONCLUSION

An undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion was one of the RFs for LNM, in contrast to SID, in patients who underwent ESD for EGC with deep submucosal invasion. This insight would be helpful in managing such patients.

Survival benefits of additional surgery after non-curative endoscopic resection in patients with early gastric cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The survival benefit of additional surgery after non-curative endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer is a matter of debate. This meta-analysis is intended to draw a convincing conclusion on this issue based on data currently available.

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed/Medline database was performed from 2010 to 2018 for studies comparing survival outcomes of additional surgery versus simple follow-up after non-curative endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer. Differences between groups were calculated using either the fixed effects model or random effects model.

RESULTS

Ten retrospective studies with 4225 patients met the inclusion criteria. Additional surgery significantly provided better 5 years overall survival [odds ratios (OR) 3.50, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.89-4.24] and disease-specific survival (OR 3.99, 95% CI 2.50-6.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Additional surgery offers survival benefits to patients undergoing non-curative endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer.

Is the eCura system useful for selecting patients who require radical surgery after noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer? A comparative study

BACKGROUND

We have established a risk-scoring system, termed the "eCura system," for the risk stratification of lymph node metastasis in patients who have received noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC). We aimed to clarify whether this system contributes to the selection of patients requiring radical surgery after ESD.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2011, 1,969 patients with noncurative ESD for EGC were included in this multicenter study. Depending on the treatment strategy after ESD, we had patients with no additional treatment (n = 905) and those with radical surgery after ESD (n = 1,064). After the application of the eCura system to these patients, cancer recurrence and cancer-specific mortality in each risk category of the system were compared between the two patient groups.

RESULTS

Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that in the high-risk category, cancer recurrence was significantly higher (hazard ratio = 3.13, p = 0.024) and cancer-specific mortality tended to be higher (hazard ratio = 2.66, p = 0.063) in patients with no additional treatment than in those with radical surgery after ESD, whereas no significant differences were observed in the intermediate-risk and low-risk categories. In addition, cancer-specific survival in the low-risk category was high in both patient groups (99.6 and 99.7%). A limitation of this study is that it included a small number of cases with undifferentiated-type EGC (292 cases).

CONCLUSIONS

The eCura system is a useful aid for selecting the appropriate treatment strategy after noncurative ESD for EGC. However, caution is needed when applying this system to patients with undifferentiated-type EGC.

Long-term outcomes of patients with early gastric cancer found to have lesions for which endoscopic treatment is not indicated on histopathological evaluation after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer treatment guidelines recommend additional surgery as the standard treatment for lesions for which endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is not indicated. However, the incidence of lymph-node metastasis is low in most patients.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The study comprised 231 patients (231 lesions) who underwent ESD for early gastric cancer (EGC) in our hospital from September 2002 through March 2015 and were found to have lesions for which endoscopic treatment is not indicated on histopathological evaluation after ESD. The patients were divided into the additional operation group and the follow-up group, and long-term outcomes were studied retrospectively. Risk factors for metastasis and recurrence were also studied (capture rate, 98.7%).

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 48 months. There were 174 men and 57 women with a median age of 72 years. The additional operation group comprised 118 patients, and the follow-up group comprised 113 patients. The rates of 5-year cause-specific survival and 5-year overall survival were significantly higher in the additional operation group (100 and 96.0%, respectively) than in the follow-up group (92.6 and 73.3%, respectively; p = 0.010, p < 0.001). In the follow-up group, 5 patients (4.4%) died of gastric cancer (p = 0.021). Among elderly patients 75 years or older, long-term outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups. Sixteen patients had metastasis or recurrence, and the presence of lymphatic involvement was an independent risk factor for metastasis, recurrence, or both (p = 0.003; odds ratio 10.594; 95% confidence interval 2.294-48.927).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with EGC who are confirmed to have lesions for which endoscopic treatment is not indicated on histopathological evaluation after ESD, additional surgery should be aggressively performed if the patient can tolerate such treatment. In elderly patients aged 75 years or older and patients with serious underlying diseases, follow-up observation was suggested to be one option in patients who give informed consent after receiving an explanation of the risk of recurrence.