Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for advanced polyps and early cancers in the rectum-Long-term outcome: A STROBE compliant observational study

The Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO): Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, 2024 update

The 2024 updates of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) Clinical Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer emphasize standardizing cancer treatment in China, highlighting the latest advancements in evidence-based medicine, healthcare resource access, and precision medicine in oncology. These updates address disparities in epidemiological trends, clinicopathological characteristics, tumor biology, treatment approaches, and drug selection for colorectal cancer patients across diverse regions and backgrounds. Key revisions include adjustments to evidence levels for intensive treatment strategies, updates to regimens for deficient mismatch repair (dMMR)/ microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) patients, proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)/ microsatellite stability (MSS) patients who have failed standard therapies, and rectal cancer patients with low recurrence risk. Additionally, recommendations for digital rectal examination and DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE)/ DNA polymerase delta 1 (POLD1) gene mutation testing have been strengthened. The 2024 CSCO Guidelines are based on both Chinese and international clinical research, as well as expert consensus, ensuring their relevance and applicability in clinical practice, while maintaining a commitment to scientific rigor, impartiality, and timely updates.

Prognosis of Patients Over 60 Years Old With Early Rectal Cancer Undergoing Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery – A Single-Center Experience

Aim

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is widely performed in early rectal cancer. This technique offers greater organ preservation and decreases the risk of subsequent surgery. However, postoperative local recurrence and distant metastasis remain challenges for patients with high-risk pathological factors. This single-center study reports the prognosis of early rectal cancer patients over 60 years old after TEM.

Methods

The data of the patients over 60 years old who underwent local anal resection were collected retrospectively. Moreover, the 5-year follow-up data were analyzed to determine the 5-year DFS and OS.

Results

47 early rectal cancer patients over 60 years old underwent TEM. There were 27 patients with high-risk factors and 20 patients without high-risk factors. Two patients underwent radical surgery after TEM and ten patients received adjuvant treatment. Local recurrence occurred in 7 patients, of which 4 underwent salvage surgery. The 5-year progression-free survival rate was 75.6%, which was lower in the high-risk patients group (69.6%) than in the non-high-risk patients group (83.3%) (P>0.05). The 5-year OS was 90.2%, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (high-risk patients 87.0%, non-high-risk patients 94.4%). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in DFS and OS between people over and under 70 years old.

Conclusion

Some high-risk factor patients over 60 years old do not have inferior 5-year DFS and OS to the non-high-risk patients. TEM is an option for old patients with high surgical risks. Even if postoperative pathology revealed high-risk factors, timely surgical treatment after local recurrence would be beneficial to improve the 5-year DFS and OS.

[Transanal endoscopic rectal resection: immediate and long-term results]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the results of transanal endoscopic microsurgery in patients with rectal tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed 87 transanal endoscopic resections of rectal benign tumors (35 patients) and rectal cancer cT1N0M0 (52 patients) for the period since 2012.

RESULTS

There were 2 (3.8%) intraoperative intestinal wall perforations into abdominal cavity and 2 (3.8%) postoperative bleedings among patients with rectal cancer. Four (7.7%) patients developed recurrent rectal cancer (pT1N0M0 - 1 patient, pT2N0M0 - 3 patients; by tumor grades: G1 - 2 patients, G2 - 2 patients) within 1.6-5.2 years. All recurrent tumors were located on anterior rectal wall. In patients with rectal cancer, cumulative relapse-free survival was 0.923 (standard error 0.037), cumulative overall survival - 0.926 (standard error 0.043). There was 1 (4.3%) intraoperative intestinal wall perforation among patients with benign rectal tumors. Postoperative anastomotic leakage occurred in 1 (4.3%) patient. Recurrent benign tumors occurred in 2 (8.7%) patients with villous rectal tumors. No relapses were observed in patients with rectal adenomas (p=1.0).

CONCLUSION

Transanal endoscopic rectal resection is effective for benign rectal tumors and rectal cancer pT1N0M0 with high relapse-free and overall survival and low complication rate. Risk factors of recurrence are tumor stage pT2N0M0, tumor location on anterior wall and distance from the anus over 10 cm.

Cost comparisons of endoscopic and surgical resection of stage T1 rectal cancer

Background and study aims  Management of T1 rectal cancer is complex and includes several resection methods, making cost comparisons challenging. The aim of this study was to compare costs of endoscopic and surgical resection and to investigate hypothetical cost scenarios for the treatment of T1 rectal cancer. Patients and methods  Retrospective population-based cost minimization study on prospectively collected data on T1 rectal cancer patients treated using endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), open, laparoscopic, or robotic resection, in Skåne County, Sweden (2011-2017). The hypothetical cost scenarios were based on the distribution of high-risk features of lymph node metastases in a national cohort (2009-2017). Results  Eighty-five patients with T1 RC undergoing ESD (n = 16), TEM (n = 17), open (n = 35), laparoscopic (n = 9), and robotic (n = 8) resection were included. ESD had a total 1-year cost of 5165 € and was significantly ( P  < 0.05) less expensive compared to TEM (14871€), open (21 453 €), laparoscopic (22 488 €) and robotic resection (26 562 €). Risk factors for lymph node metastases were seen in 68 % of 779 cases of T1 rectal cancers included in the national cohort. The hypothetical scenario of performing ESD on all T1 RC had the lowest total 1-year per patient cost compared to all other alternatives. Conclusions  This is the first study analyzing total 1-year costs of endoscopic and surgical methods to resect T1 rectal cancer, which showed that the cost of ESD was significantly lower compared to TEM and surgical resection. In fact, based on hypothetical cost scenarios, ESD is still justifiable from a cost perspective even when all high-risk cases are followed by surgery in accordance to guidelines.

Timing of recurrences of TEM resected rectal neoplasms is variable as per the surveillance practices of one tertiary care institution

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is widely used for the excision of rectal adenomas and early rectal adenocarcinoma. Few recommendations currently exist for surveillance of lesions excised by TEM. The purpose of this study was to review the surveillance practices and the patterns of recurrence among TEM resected lesions at a tertiary care hospital. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent TEM for rectal adenoma or adenocarcinoma before June 2017. In our study population of 114 patients, the final pathology included 78 (68%) adenomas and 36 (32%) adenocarcinomas. Of the adenocarcinomas 23, 9, and 4 were T1, T2, T3 lesions, respectively. Of those, 25 patients opted for surveillance instead of further treatment. The most commonly recommended endoscopic surveillance strategy by our group for both adenomas and adenocarcinomas excised by TEM was flexible sigmoidoscopy every 6 months for 2 years. Recurrences occurred in 4/78 (5.1%) adenoma patients, all found within 16.9 months of surgery, and in 4/25 (16%) adenocarcinoma patients, found between 7.4 and 38.5 months post-surgery. Our data highlights the fact that the timing of recurrences post TEM surgery is variable. Further studies looking at recurrence patterns are needed in order to create comprehensive guidelines for surveillance of these patients.

Cost Effectiveness of Endoscopic Resection vs Transanal Resection of Complex Benign Rectal Polyps

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Complex benign rectal polyps can be managed with transanal surgery or with endoscopic resection (ER). Though the complication rate after ER is lower than transanal surgery, recurrence is higher. Patients lost to follow up after ER might therefore be at increased risk for rectal cancer. We evaluated the costs, benefits, and cost effectiveness of ER compared to 2 surgical techniques for removing complex rectal polyps, using a 50-year time horizon-this allowed us to capture rates of cancer development among patients lost from follow-up surveillance.

METHODS

We created a Markov model to simulate the lifetime outcomes and costs of ER, transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), and transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) for the management of a complex benign rectal polyp. We assessed the effect of surveillance by allowing a portion of the patients to be lost to follow up. We calculated the cost, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio or each intervention over a 50-year time horizon.

RESULTS

We found that TEM was slightly more effective than TAMIS and ER (TEM, 19.54 QALYs; TAMIS, 19.53 QALYs; and ER, 19.53 QALYs), but ER had a lower lifetime discounted cost (ER cost $7161, TEM cost $10,459, and TAMIS cost $11,253). TEM was not cost effective compared to ER, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $485,333/QALY. TAMIS was dominated by TEM. TEM became cost effective when the mortality from ER exceeded 0.63%, or if the loss to follow up rate exceeded 25.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a Markov model, we found that ER, TEM, and TAMIS have similar effectiveness, but ER is less expensive, in management of benign rectal polyps. As the rate of loss to follow up increases, transanal surgery becomes more effective relative to ER.

Factors Associated With Margin Positivity and Incidental Carcinoma in Patients Undergoing Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEMS) for the Management of Adenomatous and Dysplastic Rectal Lesions

PURPOSE

Colorectal cancer screening has resulted in an increased detection of early premalignant rectal lesions. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS) is a minimally invasive procedure for the resection of dysplastic and selected early malignant lesions with organ and functional preservation. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with positive resection margin and the underlying invasive component.

METHODS

This was an analysis of a prospective consecutive series of all TEMS procedures performed over the last 10-year period. Data was collated from hospital databases and operative theater registers. Statistical analysis was performed using Minitab-V18 with a P<0.05 regarded as significant.

RESULTS

In total, 328 procedures were performed on 292 patients. The cohort included 165 male patients and 127 female patients with a mean age of 66.3 years (19 to 95 years). A total of 274 procedures performed were en bloc excisions and 54 procedures were piecemeal debulking excisions for larger lesions follow by formal TEMs at an interval. The mean tumor size was 41.9 mm (10 to 150 mm), and the mean distance from anal verge was 9.3 cm (2 to 20 cm). Clear margins were achieved in 85% of cases. An overall 10.6% of patients had pathologic upgrading to invasive disease after TEMS. Lesion volume was found to influence the completeness of excision, and the widest diameter of the lesions was related to the presence of an invasive component on histology (P=0.002, 0.008, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

TEMS is a minimally invasive technique for the resection of rectal lesions that are not amenable to endoscopic removal. Lesion size and endoscopic diameter were associated with invasive component and margin positivity, respectively. These factors should be taken into consideration when considering TEMS.

Modern management of T1 rectal cancer by transanal endoscopic microsurgery: a 10-year single-centre experience

AIM

Minimally invasive, organ-sparing surgery has been used increasingly for early rectal cancer in recent years. However, local recurrence remains a concern. This study presents a 10-year single-centre experience of recurrence after local excision for T1 rectal cancer.

METHOD

Data were collected prospectively on all patients undergoing local excision by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) in a single institution. Data covering a 10-year period were analysed.

RESULTS

In all, 192 patients underwent TEM for rectal cancer; 70 of these had T1 tumour in the TEM specimen and did not have preoperative radiotherapy. Four were managed with completion surgery following TEM and a further six had radiotherapy; 60 underwent surveillance alone. Local recurrence occurred in six patients; three underwent salvage surgery. Estimated local recurrence at 3 years was 7.2% for the surveillance alone group.

CONCLUSIONS

Local recurrence rates were lower than previous studies. Better preoperative assessment, more effective local excision surgery and postoperative radiotherapy may be contributory factors to a better-than-predicted outcome. Local excision should be offered as part of standard of care for T1 rectal cancer in the presence of good preoperative selection and meticulous surveillance.

Clinical Values of Preoperative Use of Antibiotics in Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical values of preoperative use of antibiotics in transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM).

METHODS

Thirty patients undergoing TEM surgery to treat rectal neoplasms in our hospital were selected in this study. All patients were randomly divided into two groups: antibiotic group that antibiotics were used before and after surgery, and control group that antibiotics were only used after surgery. Several markers were evaluated before and after surgery in all patients, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), changes procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophils (NE%) and temperature (T).

RESULTS

The patients in the antibiotic group at the first and third days after surgery showed lower values of ESR, CRP, WBC, NE% and T than the control group (p < 0.05), furthermore, the WBC and NE% were significantly decreased at the third day after surgery compared with the first day after surgery. For the PCT, there was a significant difference in the first day after surgery between the two groups (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between them at the third day after surgery (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The preoperative use of antibiotics in TEM surgery to treat rectal neoplasms may become an effective method to reduce inflammation and prevent infecting after surgery, which will be verified by an amount of studies on large sample.

Initial application of transanal endoscopic microsurgery for high-risk lower rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor after imatinib mesylate neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A case report

RATIONALE

The lower rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare entity and warrants special attentions because of the considerations of preserving of anal and urinal functions. Neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib mesylate (IM) has achieved great success in GIST, which potentially extends the applications of function-preserving minimally invasive surgical procedures. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a well-developed minimally invasive technique for benign tumors in lower rectum. Herein, we reported the initial application of TEM for high risk GIST after IM treatment.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 52-year-old woman suffered mild lower abdominal pain and perianal discomfort. Physical examination found a soft mass 4 cm far away from anal verge. Rectal MRI and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) showed that there was a 1.9 × 1.6 cm submucosal mass in the lower rectum. The incisional biopsy was performed and the pathological result reported it was a high-risk GIST.

DIAGNOSES

High-risk lower rectal GIST.

INTERVENTIONS

IM was given for neoadjuvant therapy. Then TEM was adopted to resect the residual tumor. IM was restored 4 weeks after surgery.

OUTCOMES

The final pathological results reported the margin was clear. After an 18-month follow up, no recurrence and metastasis was found and the patient had a satisfactory anal and urinal functions.

LESSONS

TEM in combination with IM could be a practical strategy for the high-risk lower rectal GIST simultaneously to achieve curative resection and to preserve the anal and urinal functions that can significantly improve the life quality of the patients.