Advances in endoluminal therapy for esophageal cancer

Early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma management through endoscopic submucosal dissection

The incidence of esophageal cancer is steadily increasing worldwide. Outcome is poor, given that the majority of cases are diagnosed at advanced disease stages. However, when detected at early stages, esophageal tumors can be curatively treated through less invasive methods, resulting in a 5-year survival rate above 90%. Therefore, it is essential to identify the high-risk population and recommend those patients undergo screening using high-resolution endoscopy, adding the resources of chromoendoscopy with Lugol's solution (or digital chromoendoscopy) and magnification. Such systematized examination makes it possible to recognize early-stage esophageal neoplasia and propose endoscopic submucosal dissection as treatment. In that procedure, the tumor is resected en bloc, resulting in lower morbidity and mortality, compared with previous standard treatment, including early-stage esophagectomy. The present article is a review of the latest advances in the management of superficial esophageal tumors through endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Endoscopic Management of Early Esophagogastric Cancer

Esophagogastric cancer accounts for the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Significant efforts have been made to detect these malignancies at an earlier stage through the implementation of screening programs in high-risk individuals using advanced diagnostic techniques. Endoscopic management techniques, such as endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection, have consistently demonstrated excellent outcomes in the management of these lesions. These techniques are associated with a lower risk of morbidity and mortality when compared with traditional surgical management.

Efficacy of comprehensive mental nursing in patients with esophageal cancer during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of comprehensive mental nursing in patients with esophageal cancer during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with esophageal cancer who underwent concurrent chemo-radiotherapy at the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang from October 2011 to October 2014 were randomly divided into a comprehensive nursing group and a routine nursing group, with 60 patients in each group. All patients were given the same chemo-radiotherapy. The patients in the comprehensive nursing group were given comprehensive mental nursing intervention by evaluating their mental status, individual needs and adverse reactions during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy, and the routine nursing group were only given conventional nursing. The quality of life after nursing intervention and the adverse reactions during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTS: The Spitzer quality of life index was significantly higher in the comprehensive nursing group than in the routine nursing group after nursing intervention (P < 0.001). The incidence rate of adverse reactions including gastrointestinal reactions, liver dysfunction, bone marrow suppression, renal dysfunction and radiotherapy-induced esophagitis was significantly lower in the comprehensive nursing group than in the routine nursing group (P = 0.006, 0.013, 0.003, 0.027, 0.010). Ten cases in the routine nursing group discontinued treatment due to serious adverse reactions, but all patients in the comprehensive nursing group completed the concurrent chemo-radiotherapy under supportive and symptomatic treatment.

CONCLUSION: Giving comprehensive mental nursing intervention to patients with esophageal cancer undergoing concurrent chemo-radiotherapy can significantly reduce and prevent adverse reactions and effectively improve the patients' quality of life.

Endoscopic mucosal resection for staging and treatment of early esophageal carcinoma: a single institution experience

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has emerged for evaluation and treatment of esophageal nodules. We report our initial experience with EMR for T staging and management of early esophageal cancer.

METHODS

We reviewed patients undergoing EMR for esophageal adenocarcinoma between 2008 and 2013. The primary outcome measure was needed for esophagectomy. Secondary outcomes included complete eradication of adenocarcinoma, recurrence or persistence of cancer, nodal status for those undergoing esophagectomy, and complications of endoscopic treatment.

RESULTS

During the study period, 24 patients underwent EMR demonstrating carcinoma, and a grossly margin negative endoscopic resection was achieved in all cases. Ten patients (42 %) had evidence of submucosal invasion and were referred for esophagectomy. Patients with margin negative EMR (n = 10, 42 %) or positive radial margins (n = 4, 16 %) underwent endoscopic surveillance and treatment with radiofrequency ablation or repeat EMR as needed. Thirteen patients (93 %) with intramucosal cancer (IMC) have been successfully managed with ongoing endoscopic surveillance and treatment with a median follow-up of 15.5 months. One patient underwent esophagectomy due to recurrent IMC in the setting of long-segment multifocal high-grade dysplasia. There were no esophageal perforations, one patient developed a self-limited gastrointestinal hemorrhage following EMR, and one had an esophageal stricture following endoscopic management.

CONCLUSIONS

IMC can be successfully managed endoscopically and thus esophagectomy is avoided in a significant proportion of patients. Endoscopic management may be utilized in the setting of complete resection or radial margin involvement without evidence of submucosal invasion. Close endoscopic follow-up is of paramount importance even in those with negative margins, because recurrent disease may occur following EMR in these patients.

Endoscopic management of Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and early-stage esophageal adenocarcinoma

Several endoscopic procedures have been recently developed for the treatment of Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal cancer, including endoscopic resection, radiofrequency ablation, and cryoablation. This review article discusses ideal candidates for endoscopic therapies, current treatment modalities, clinical and safety outcomes, and specific management recommendations.

Radical excision of Barrett's esophagus and complete recovery of normal squamous epithelium

To treat Barrett’s esophagus (BE), radiofrequency ablation or cryotherapy are effective treatments for eradicating BE with dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia, and reduce the rates of Barrett’s esophageal adenocarcinoma (BAC). However, patients with BE and dysplasia or early cancer who achieved complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia, BE recurred in 5% within a year, requiring expensive endoscopic surveillances. We performed endoscopic submucosal dissection as complete radically curable treatment procedure for BE with dysplasia, intestinal metaplasia and BAC.