Endoscopic resection of gastric and esophageal cancer

Emerging Technologies in Endoscopy for Gastrointestinal Neoplasms: A Comprehensive Overview

Gastrointestinal neoplasms are a growing global health concern, requiring prompt identification and treatment. Endoscopic procedures have revolutionized the detection and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors by providing accurate, minimally invasive methods. Early-stage malignancies can be treated with endoscopic excision, leading to improved outcomes and increased survival rates. Precancerous lesions, like adenomatous polyps, can be prevented by removing them, reducing cancer occurrence and death rates. Advanced techniques like chromoendoscopy, narrow-band imaging, and confocal laser endomicroscopy improve the ability to see the mucosa surface and diagnose conditions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in endoscopy can enhance diagnostic accuracy and predict histology outcomes. However, challenges remain in accurately defining lesions and ensuring precise diagnosis and treatment selection. Molecular imaging approaches and therapeutic modalities like photodynamic therapy and endoscopic ultrasonography-guided therapies hold potential but require further study and clinical confirmation. This study examines the future prospects and obstacles in endoscopic procedures for the timely identification and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. The focus is on developing technology, limits, and prospective effects on clinical practice.

Effectiveness and Safety of a Modified Technique of Transvesical Obturator Nerve Block to Avoid Adductor Contractions during Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified transvesical obturator nerve block (ONB) in the prevention of obturator nerve reflex and consecutive bladder perforations (BPs) during transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBTs). <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> A retrospective analysis of all patients resected in 2014–2015 due to a bladder tumor of the lateral walls, including a follow-up period until December 2018, was performed. Two groups were defined: in the first group, all patients underwent TURBT with a modified transvesical ONB. The second group underwent conventional TURBT with intermittent resection. Primary endpoints were the rates of adductor contractions and BPs. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Ninety-four out of 1,145 resected patients presented with tumors on the lateral wall of the bladder and a complete dataset including a long-term follow-up. Thirty-six patients were treated in the ONB group, and 58 patients comprised the control group. The median age in the 2 groups was 70.8 and 71.8 years in the first and second groups, respectively. Adductor spasms were reported in 8.33 versus 25.86% (<i>p</i> = 0.057) and perforation in 2.78 versus 17.24% (<i>p</i> = 0.047) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. After a median follow-up of 32.5 months, there was no significant difference in recurrence rates (52.78 vs. 51.72%, <i>p</i> = 0.672). In a subgroup analysis, lower perforation rates were recorded for the ONB group in patients with tumors &#x3c;3 cm (0/30 vs. 8/46, <i>p</i> = 0.076) and in patients with unifocal tumors (0/12 vs. 5/23, <i>p</i> = 0.141). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> The simplified approach of transvesical ONB demonstrated in this study appears to be an inexpensive, safe, effective, and simple-to-use technique.

Lesion size and circumferential range identified as independent risk factors for esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is used to treat early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions. Patients undergoing ESD are prone to esophageal stenosis, which impairs therapeutic efficacy and quality of life. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the potential association between patient demographics and esophageal lesion characteristics with the risk of esophageal stenosis following ESD.

METHODS

For this retrospective study 190 consecutive patients who underwent ESD between January 2013 and January 2015 were recruited. Data on patient demographics, esophageal lesion-related factors, operation details, esophageal stenosis occurrence and measures taken to prevent or treat stricture were collected, and the normality of distribution of each indicator was assessed with a Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Stenosis risk factors were then identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Post-ESD esophageal stenosis occurred in 51 cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors. A history of EMR/ESD (OR = 4.185, 95% CI: 1.511-11.589), resection circumferential diameter (OR = 1.721, 95% CI: 1.135-2.610), non-en bloc resection (OR = 7.413, 95% CI: 2.398-22.921), submucosal infiltration (OR = 3.449, 95% CI: 1.014-11.734) and circumferential resection range (OR = 57.493, 95% CI: 17.236-191.782) were identified as independent risk factors for post-ESD esophageal stenosis. Spraying porcine fibrin adhesive on the resection bed reduced neither the incidence of postoperative stenosis nor the extent of postoperative dilation.

CONCLUSION

Post-ESD esophageal stenosis is significantly related to size and circumferential range of lesion resection. EMR/ESD history, non-en bloc resection and submucosal infiltration may be additional risk factors.

Resection of Mucosal and Submucosal Gastrointestinal Lesions and a Double Endoscope Experience

Aim:

The patients who underwent endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for mucosal and submucosal lesions of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum and the advantages of the double endoscope method we used for traction during ESD were evaluated.

Material and Methods:

The patients who underwent ESD and EMR due to upper gastrointestinal lesions were evaluated retrospectively between January 2014 and April 2018 in our endoscopy unit.

Result:

The mean age of 10 patients with esophageal lesions was 53 years. ESD was performed for 7 lesions and EMR for 3 lesions. The most common lesion was leiomyoma and the median size of the lesions was 1.4 cm (range, 0.6–2.5 cm).

The median age of 26 patients with gastric lesions was 61 years. EMR were performed for 11 lesions and ESD for 15 lesions. Double endoscope was used in 6 patients. One patient had intramucosal carcinoma, while the other lesions were benign and dysplasia was the most common lesion. The median size of lesions was 1.8 cm (range, 1–3 cm).

All lesions were evaluated with endoscopic ultrasonography. Bleeding was seen in 4 patients and perforation in 1 patient during ESD and defect was closed with endoscopic clips.

Conclusion:

The advantages of endoscopic resections; short hospitalization, low complication rates, patient comfort, and doesn't require the general anesthesia. For endoscopic resection, we think that the second endoscope shortens the duration of the procedure, reduces the complication rate, and increases the comfort of the endoscopist.

Outcome of endoscopic mucosal resection in Barrett's esophagus determined by systematic quantification of epithelial glands using volumetric laser endomicroscopy

BACKGROUND

Dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) lesions ≤2 cm in size can be targeted for en-bloc endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). White-light endoscopy can underestimate the size of a lesion, limiting complete resection. Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) provides high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of BE. Epithelial glands are a VLE feature associated with BE dysplasia. We study the association between VLE gland quantification and outcome of resection.

METHODS

EMR specimens of BE lesions targeted for en-bloc resection were imaged with VLE using an established protocol. Manual and automated quantification of epithelial glands was performed blinded to resection outcome. The presence of epithelial glands at the resection margins was recorded. Histologic en-bloc (R0) resection of the targeted lesion was defined by the absence and incomplete (R1) resection by the presence of dysplasia/neoplasia at specimen margins.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven EMRs with a mean (standard deviation) size of 1.04 (0.37) cm were imaged with VLE. The highest grade of dysplasia found was low-grade dysplasia (n = 12), high-grade dysplasia (n = 19), and intramucosal cancer (n = 6). The en-bloc resection rate was 37.8% (R0, n = 14; R1, n = 23). The mean (standard deviation) number of epithelial glands quantified with VLE was 13.0 (6.7) and 28.8 (23.9) for R0 and R1 specimens, respectively, with a significant mean difference of 15.8 glands (95% confidence interval, 2-29; P = .02). The presence of glands at the specimen margin was associated with incomplete resection (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Systematic quantification of BE epithelial glands using VLE can determine the outcome of endoscopic resection. VLE may have a potential role in assessment of lesion margins.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection followed by chemoradiotherapy for superficial esophageal cancer: choice of new approach

Background

The standard treatment for superficial esophageal cancer (SEC) involving muscularis mucosal (T1a-MM) or submucosal (T1b) invasion has been the surgical resection of the esophagus. However, esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection is highly invasive. Recent reports have shown that endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has promising results and might become a new therapeutic approach. This retrospective study aimed to elucidate the efficacy and safety of this new treatment.

Methods

Patients with clinical stage T1b tumor without apparent metastasis treated with ESD followed by CRT from 2014 to 2017 (the CRT group) were included. The outcomes on disease-free survival (DFS) of this group were compared with those of consecutive patients in a historical control group who underwent ESD followed by esophagectomy (the esophagectomy group) between 2008 and 2015.

Results

Of 32 patients analyzed, 16 were in the CRT group and 16 with similar stage cancer were in the esophagectomy group. Radiotherapy was completed in all patients, and the incidence of grade ≥ 3 nonhematologic adverse events was 6%. The 2-year overall survival rates were 100%, and locoregional control was achieved in all patients in the CRT group, and the 2-year DFS rates were 88 and 100% for the CRT and esophagectomy groups, respectively, without significant differences.

Conclusions

Our data confirmed our new approach as being safe and effective for locoregional control and may provide a nonsurgical treatment option for patients with clinical stage T1b tumors.

Swainsonine Inhibits Invasion and the EMT Process in Esophageal Carcinoma Cells by Targeting Twist1

Esophageal cancer is a common gastrointestinal cancer, with a very high mortality rate in patients with metastasis. Swainsonine, a cytotoxic fungal alkaloid, has been shown to inhibit cell growth in esophageal cancer. In the present study, we explored the effects of swainsonine on cell invasion and metastasis in esophageal cancer cells. Human esophageal carcinoma cells were treated with different doses of swainsonine, and then cell viability, invasion, and apoptosis were measured. The mRNA and protein expressions of Twist1, apoptosis- and EMT-related factors, and PI3K/AKT pathway factors were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Swainsonine had no effect on esophageal cancer cell viability and apoptosis, but it significantly decreased cell invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Swainsonine increased the expression of E-cadherin but decreased the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, ZEB1, and snail in a dose-dependent manner, thereby inhibiting EMT. Last, we found that swainsonine inhibits cell invasion and EMT in the esophageal carcinoma cells by downregulation of Twist1 and deactivation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Gastric Adenocarcinoma: A Multimodal Approach

Despite its declining incidence, gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. A multimodal approach to GC is critical to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Pretherapy fine resolution contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging, endoscopic ultrasound and staging laparoscopy play an important role in patients with newly diagnosed ostensibly operable GC to avoid unnecessary non-therapeutic laparotomies. Currently, margin negative gastrectomy and adequate lymphadenectomy performed at high volume hospitals remain the backbone of GC treatment. Importantly, adequate GC surgery should be integrated in the setting of a multimodal treatment approach. Treatment for advanced GC continues to expand with the emergence of additional lines of systemic and targeted therapies.