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

Additional staining for lymphovascular invasion is associated with increased estimation of lymph node metastasis in patients with T1 colorectal cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a critical risk factor for lymph node metastasis (LNM), which requires additional surgery after endoscopic resection of T1 colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the impact of additional staining on estimating LNM is unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of additional staining on determining LNM in T1 CRC.

METHODS

We searched five electronic databases. Outcomes were diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), assessed using hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves, and interobserver agreement among pathologists for positive LVI, assessed using Kappa coefficients (κ). We performed a subgroup analysis of studies that simultaneously included a multivariable analysis for other risk factors (deep submucosal invasion, poor differentiation, and tumor budding).

RESULTS

Among the 64 studies (18,097 patients) identified, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and additional staining for LVI had pooled sensitivities of 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32-0.58) and 0.68 (95% CI 0.44-0.86), specificities of 0.88 (95% CI 0.78-0.94) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.62-0.86), and DORs of 6.26 (95% CI 3.73-10.53) and 6.47 (95% CI 3.40-12.32) for determining LNM, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the DOR of additional staining for LNM (DOR 5.95; 95% CI 2.87-12.33) was higher than that of HE staining (DOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.13-3.16) (P = 0.01). Pooled κ values were 0.37 (95% CI 0.22-0.52) and 0.62 (95% CI 0.04-0.99) for HE and additional staining for LVI, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Additional staining for LVI may increase the DOR for LNM and interobserver agreement for positive LVI among pathologists.

Risk of residual neoplasia after a noncurative colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection for malignant lesions: a multinational study

BACKGROUND : Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in colorectal lesions is technically demanding and a significant rate of noncurative procedures is expected. We aimed to assess the rate of residual lesions after a noncurative ESD for colorectal cancer (CRC) and to establish predictive scores to be applied in the clinical setting. METHODS : Retrospective multicenter analysis of consecutive colorectal ESDs. Patients with noncurative ESDs performed for the treatment of CRC lesions submitted to complementary surgery or with at least one follow-up endoscopy were included. RESULTS : From 2255 colorectal ESDs, 381 (17 %) were noncurative, and 135 of these were performed in CRC lesions. A residual lesion was observed in 24 patients (18 %). Surgery was performed in 96 patients and 76 (79 %) had no residual lesion in the colorectal wall or in the lymph nodes. The residual lesion rate for sm1 cancers was 0 %, and for > sm1 cancers was also 0 % if no other risk factors were present. Independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis were poor differentiation and lymphatic permeation (NC-Lymph score). Risk factors for the presence of a residual lesion in the wall were piecemeal resection, poor differentiation, and positive/indeterminate vertical margin (NC-Wall score). CONCLUSIONS : Lymphatic permeation or poor differentiation warrant surgery owing to their high risk of lymph node metastasis, mainly in > sm1 cancers. In the remaining cases, en bloc and R0 resections resulted in a low risk of residual lesions in the wall. Our scores can be a useful tool for the management of patients who undergo noncurative colorectal ESDs.

Patient outcomes after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early colorectal cancer: a single-center, retrospective cohort study

Background

The treatment patterns and outcomes for patients after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) remain controversial, particularly among those requiring preservation of the anal sphincter or advanced age. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the treatment patterns and outcomes in patients after non-curative ESD for early colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

This was a retrospective review in Chinese patients who received non-curative ESD for early CRC, and who were treated in the Cancer Hospital at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2010 to 2019. Demographic parameters, clinicopathologic features, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Of the 180 patients who received non-curative ESD, 85 received additional surgery; the remaining 95 patients were kept under surveillance only. Patients in the surveillance-only group tended to be older than those in the additional surgery group. Furthermore, tumors in the surveillance-only group were located in the rectum significantly more often, were better differentiated with a shallower depth of invasion and less perineuronal invasion than in the additional surgery group; there were fewer high-risk factors for residual cancer or lymph node (LN) metastasis in the surveillance-only group compared with the additional surgery group. There was no significant difference in 5-year overall survival (OS) (92.6% versus 92.7%, P=0.355), 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) (94.7% versus 91.9%, P=0.340), 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) (93.8% versus 92.7%, P=0.791), or total recurrence rates (4.7% versus 9.5%, P=0.217) between the additional surgery and surveillance-only groups, respectively.

Conclusions

ESD results in favorable outcomes for patients with early CRC. Surveillance in patients who receive non-curative ESD may be an alternative option for those with advanced age and fewer high-risk factors for residual cancer or LN metastasis.