Performance of gastric cancer screening by endoscopy testing through the National Cancer Screening Program of Korea

Delays in Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment Among Patients With GI Cancer in Southwest Nigeria

PURPOSE

The incidence of GI cancers is increasing in sub-Saharan African countries. We described the oncological care pathway and assessed presentation, diagnosis, and treatment intervals and delays among patients with GI cancer who presented to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 545 patients with GI cancer in the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) database. We defined presentation interval as the interval between symptom onset and presentation to tertiary hospital, diagnostic interval as between presentation and diagnosis, and treatment interval as between diagnosis and initiation of treatment. We considered >3 months, >1 month, and >1 month to be presentation, diagnosis, and treatment delays, respectively. We compared lengths of intervals using Mann-Whitney U tests and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The most frequent cancer types were pancreatic (32%) and colorectal (28%). Most patients presented at stages III (38%) and IV (30%). The median presentation interval was 84 days (IQR, 56-191), and 49% presented after 3 months or longer. The median diagnosis and treatment intervals were 0 (IQR, 0-8) and 7 (IQR, 0-23) days, respectively. There was no relationship between age, sex, education, or distance to tertiary hospital and presentation delay, but patients with stage III to IV versus I to II had higher odds of presentation delay (odds ratio [OR], 1.68 [95% CI, 1.13 to 2.50]). Among patients with pancreatic cancer, older patients were less likely to have a diagnosis delay (OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.25 to 0.98]).

CONCLUSION

About half of patients with GI cancer in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, did not present to tertiary hospitals until more than 90 days after noticing symptoms. Efforts are warranted to improve public knowledge of GI cancer symptoms and to strengthen health systems for prompt diagnosis and referral to specialty care.

Racial disparities of gastric cancer in the USA: an overview of epidemiology, global screening guidelines, and targeted screening in a heterogeneous population

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer diagnosis and fourth leading cause of cancer-related death globally. The incidence of gastric cancer in the USA shows significant racial and ethnic disparities with gastric cancer incidence in Korean Americans being over five times higher than in non-Hispanic whites. Since gastric cancer is not common in the USA, there are no current screening guidelines. In countries with higher incidences of gastric cancer, screening guidelines have been implemented for early detection and intervention and this has been associated with a reduction in mortality. Immigrants from high incidence countries develop gastric cancer at lower rates once outside of their country of origin, but continue to be at higher risk for developing gastric cancer. This risk does seem to decrease with subsequent generations. With increasing availability of endoscopy, initiating gastric cancer screening guidelines for high-risk groups can have the potential to improve survival by diagnosing and treating gastric cancer at an earlier stage. This article aims to provide context to gastric cancer epidemiology globally, review risk factors for developing gastric cancer, highlight racial and ethnic disparities in gastric cancer burden in the USA, examine current guidelines that exist in high incidence countries, and suggest future studies examining the efficacy of additional screening in high-risk populations to reduce gastric cancer mortality and disparate burden on ethnic minorities in the USA.

Endoscopic diagnosis and prevalence of early gastric cancer in India: A prospective study

Objectives

Although countries like Japan and South Korea have implemented nationwide endoscopic screening programs, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of endoscopy for diagnosing early gastric cancer (EGC) in developing countries such as India. In the present study, we aimed to determine the feasibility of endoscopic detection of EGC from India.

Methods

The data was prospectively collected for all patients ≥40 years who underwent a diagnostic upper endoscopy from April to September 2021. A single endoscopist who performed the endoscopic procedures completed 1-month training in advanced endoscopy in Japan. Following the training, the endoscopist continued to engage in internet-based discussions regarding his cases encountered. Prior to this training, the endoscopist had not detected any EGC cases during his 12-year gastroenterology practice.

Results

A total of 1033 patients were included in the study, with males accounting for 65.4% and a mean age 52 years. The average procedural time was 7.13 ± 4.8 min. A total of 25 patients (2.4%) were found to have GC, including 6 patients (0.6%) with EGC. Two patients had synchronous EGC lesions. All EGC patients were males, with an average age of 66 years. All EGCs were detected in the distal stomach in the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection and severe atrophic gastritis.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that the endoscopic detection of EGC is feasible in India. Optimal training on endoscopic diagnosis of EGC can improve the detection of such lesion. Further studies are warranted to assess the optimization and implementation of an endoscopic screening program for EGC in India.

Socio-economic factors and medical conditions affecting regular stomach cancer screening in Korea: a retrospective longitudinal study using national public health data for 11 years

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore socio-economic factors and medical conditions that affect regular stomach cancer (SC) screening among Korean adults.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective observational study.

METHODS

Study subjects were 5545 adults aged ≥40 years who participated in the 2007-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and were followed up to year 2017 based on data linking to the Korean National Health Insurance Service and Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment. Socio-economic factors included sex, age, residential area, education, occupation, marital status, disability, public and private health insurance, service through local public health organizations, history of cancer except for SC, and family history of SC. Medical factors included six gastric lesions with the possibility of facilitating SC screening, including benign gastric neoplasm, chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric polyp, Helicobacter pylori infection, intestinal metaplasia, and peptic ulcers. The outcome was adherence to SC screening, which was divided into non-adherence, irregular adherence, and regular adherence.

RESULTS

After adjusting for the effects of socio-economic factors, multivariate ordinal logistic regression revealed that participants with a history of four types of gastric lesions were more likely to regularly participate in SC screening: chronic atrophic gastritis (odds ratio [OR] 1.567; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.276-1.923), gastric polyps (OR 1.565; 95% CI = 1.223-2.003), H. pylori infection (OR 1.637; 95% CI = 1.338-2.003), and peptic ulcer (OR 2.226; 95% CI 1.750-2.831).

CONCLUSIONS

To improve participation in SC screening, it is necessary to implement personalized strategies for individuals at risk for gastric cancer in addition to population-based strategies for vulnerable groups.

Post-Endoscopy Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Rate in a Tertiary Referral Centre: An Australian Data Linkage Analysis

OBJECTIVE

High-quality gastroscopy is critical for early diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal cancers (UGCs), and assessment of missed cancers may serve as a key quality metric. Using a prospective gastroscopy database and data linkage with the Queensland Cancer Registry, we assessed the risk of developing UGC within 3 years of a cancer-negative gastroscopy at an Australian tertiary centre. Additional aims were to identify factors predictive of missed cancer, perform root cause analyses for missed cancers and assess overall survival.

DESIGN/METHOD

We identified patients who were diagnosed with UGC within 3 years of undergoing gastroscopy between 2011 and 2016. Non-mucosal cancers, cancers distal to duodenum and patients undergoing surveillance were excluded. Cases diagnosed within 6 months of gastroscopy were defined as detected cancers, while those developing within 6-36 months were defined as missed cancers. Post-endoscopy UGC rate (PEUGIC-3Y) was calculated as ratio of missed over total cancers detected. Demographic, clinical, endoscopic and histologic variables were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 17,131 gastroscopies were performed for 10,393 patients during the study period. One hundred and twenty-six UGCs were diagnosed, including 120 detected UGCs and 6 missed UGCs. The overall PEUGIC-3Y rate was 4.8% (95% CI 2.1-10.4). The missed UGCs included 3 gastric adenocarcinomas, 2 gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinomas and 1 oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. At the preceding 'cancer-negative gastroscopy', no macroscopic abnormalities were detected at the site of future UGC in 5/6 patients. A UGC developed in 2/6 patients despite an apparent adequate examination at index gastroscopy. Age, sex, indication for endoscopy and cancer location or histology were not predictive of missed cases, and survival was comparable between groups.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that the PEUGIC-3Y rate was 4.8% (95% CI 2.1-10.4). The majority of missed cases were adenocarcinomas of the gastro-oesophageal junction or stomach and developed in segments which were found to be normal at index gastroscopy, highlighting the challenges in detecting subtle mucosal lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. While overall survival between patients with detected and post-gastroscopy cancers was comparable, these ultimately represent potential missed opportunities for diagnosing an early cancer and underscore the need for quality improvement in gastroscopy.

Efficacy and safety of one-step knife compared to conventional insulated-tip knife for endoscopic submucosal dissection: a preliminary study with prospective data collection and retrospective review

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is not as tiresome as gastrectomy, but it is a time-consuming procedure. One-step knife (OSK) is a novel knife that combines a knife for ESD and an injection needle into one sheath. In this study, we aimed to compare the insulated tip type of OSK and conventional knife (CK) in terms of procedure time and complication rate.

METHODS

Medical records of patients with ESD using CK between February and September 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Subsequently, data from patients who underwent ESD using OSK by September 2021 were prospectively collected. Total procedure time, procedure time by location and complication rate in the OSK and CK group were compared.

RESULTS

In the study period, a total of 203 patients (OSK, 102 patients; CK, 101 patients) were analyzed. On multivariate analysis, using CK, body location, resection size ≥ 40 mm, and submucosal fibrosis were associated with longer procedure time. The total procedure time was statistically significantly reduced in the OSK group (median 11 vs. 17 min, p < 0.01). The procedure time for each location was more reduced in the body (median 14 vs. 19 min p < 0.01) than the antrum (median 10 vs. 14 min, p = 0.01) in the OSK group. There was no significant difference in post-ESD bleeding and perforation in the two groups (3.9 vs. 3.9%, p = 0.99 and 1.0 vs. 2.0%, p = 0.56).

CONCLUSIONS

OSK significantly reduced the total procedure time of ESD. OSK could be an effective and safe knife for gastric ESD, especially for body lesions.

Endoscopic, clinicopathological, and growth characteristics of minute gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the endoscopic, clinicopathological, and growth characteristics of minute gastric cancer (MGC) and to improve its detection rate.

METHODS

Patients with early gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection from July 2012 to September 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. MGC was defined as gastric cancer of 5 mm or less in size. Preoperative and postoperative endoscopic and pathological data were collected and analyzed. Follow-up information was collected until 9 April 2022.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were enrolled, with 82 lesions observed under endoscopy and 87 diagnosed histopathologically. All patients received en bloc and curative resection. Compared with the time point when the last endoscopic examiniation prior to lesion deteciton was performed (t0), 64.29% of patients with MGC had disease progression at lesion detection (t1). However, 21.43% showed normal or only atrophic changes under white-light endoscopy, and their lesions were diagnosed accidentally by random biopsy. The majority of MGC lesions presented as type IIc and reddish, and 95.00% of cases had well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. The mean growth rate of MGC was 0.0071 mm/day, and it took an average of 3.42 years to grow to 5 mm. There was no significant difference in the depth of invasion between the low cellular atypia group and the high cellular atypia group.

CONCLUSIONS

Type IIc and reddish appearance are main endoscopic features of MGC. For cases with no obvious endoscopic changes, multipoint biopsy is helpful. MGC is mostly well differentiated and grows relatively slowly; therefore, MGC can still have a chance to be identified and resected curatively if it is missed diagnosed.

Noncoding RNome as Enabling Biomarkers for Precision Health

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), in the form of structural, catalytic or regulatory RNAs, have emerged to be critical effectors of many biological processes. With the advent of new technologies, we have begun to appreciate how intracellular and circulatory ncRNAs elegantly choreograph the regulation of gene expression and protein function(s) in the cell. Armed with this knowledge, the clinical utility of ncRNAs as biomarkers has been recently tested in a wide range of human diseases. In this review, we examine how critical factors govern the success of interrogating ncRNA biomarker expression in liquid biopsies and tissues to enhance our current clinical management of human diseases, particularly in the context of cancer. We also discuss strategies to overcome key challenges that preclude ncRNAs from becoming standard-of-care clinical biomarkers, including sample pre-analytics standardization, data cross-validation with closer attention to discordant findings, as well as correlation with clinical outcomes. Although harnessing multi-modal information from disease-associated noncoding RNome (ncRNome) in biofluids or in tissues using artificial intelligence or machine learning is at the nascent stage, it will undoubtedly fuel the community adoption of precision population health.

High-risk population's knowledge of risk factors and warning symptoms and their intention toward gastric cancer screening in Southeastern China

Background

As the incidence of gastric cancer (GC) increases sharply in adults aged over 40 years, screening of this high-risk population is important. This study aimed to explore knowledge level of GC related risk factors and symptoms, and to identify influencing factors associated with intention toward GC screening among people aged 40 years old and above in China.

Methods

A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among people aged 40 years old and above between October 2021 and March 2022 in Southeastern China. The participants' knowledge was assessed by a series of questions about risk factors (24-item scale) and warning symptoms (14-item scale).

Results

A total of 2547 complete responses were received. The mean age was 47.72 (±7.20) years and near 60% were male. Respondents had a moderate level of knowledge about risk factors and warning symptoms of GC. The total mean knowledge score was 23.9 (±9.8) out of a possible score of 38. Majority (80%) of respondents reported intention to be screened for GC in the next 5 years. The most influential predictors of screening intention were income level (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.36-3.32), perceived benefits (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.33-2.73), perceived severity (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.20-2.34), ever took GC screening (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.28-2.08), perceived poor overall health (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.19-2.11), and perceived barriers (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.17-2.09). Other significant factors were ever diagnosed with chronic gastric diseases, total knowledge score, and cues-to-action. The major reasons for not willing to take screening were "endoscopy is uncomfortable" (29.6%), "worry about screening results" (23.6%), and "have no symptoms" (21.3%).

Conclusion

High-risk population aged 40 years and above expressed high intention to receive GC screening. Intervention to improve health promotion and reduce the barriers to uptake of GC screening among high-risk populations in China is warranted.

Association of Regular Endoscopic Screening with Interval Gastric Cancer Incidence in the National Cancer Screening Program

Although regular endoscopic screening may help in early detection of gastric cancer, interval cancer remains a problem in the screening program. This study evaluated the association between regular endoscopic screening and interval cancer detection in the Korean National Cancer Screening Program (KNCSP). We defined three groups (regularly, irregularly, and not screened) according to the screening interval, and the trends in the interval cancer rate (ICR) between the groups were tested using the Cochran-Armitage test. The influence of regular endoscopic screening on the risk of interval cancer was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Among the 11,642,410 participants who underwent endoscopy, the overall ICR was 0.36 per 1000 negative screenings. The ICR of the not screened group (0.41) was the highest among the three groups and the risk of interval cancer in this group was 1.68 times higher (p < 0.001) than that in the regularly screened group. Women in their 40s who had regular screening with no history of intestinal metaplasia and gastric polyps would have the lowest probability of having interval cancer (0.005%). Regular participation in endoscopic screening programs for reducing the risk of interval cancer may help to improve the quality of screening programs.

Trends in the Performance of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program for Gastric Cancer from 2007 to 2016

Purpose

The Korean National Cancer Screening Program (KNCSP) has implemented two screening methods for gastric cancer— upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS) and endoscopy—for Koreans aged ≥ 40 years. We aimed to assess performance trends for both screening methods.

Materials and Methods

The KNCSP database was used to evaluate individuals who underwent screening from 2007 to 2016. The final gastric cancer diagnosis was ascertained by linking with the Korean Central Cancer Registry. We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional analysis to estimate performance indicators of gastric cancer screening by UGIS and endoscopy, stratified by sociodemographic factors.

Results

We found that screening rates for gastric cancer increased from 28% to 51.7% between 2007 and 2016, and that the rate of endoscopy use for gastric cancer screening increased sharply. Cancer detection rates (CDR) of UGIS and endoscopy were 0.41 and 2.25 per 1,000 screens in 2007–2008 and 0.26 and 1.99 in 2015–2016, respectively. Interval cancer rates (ICR) per 1,000 negative screenings were 1.33 (2007–2008) and 1.21 (2015–2016) for UGIS and 1.14 (2007–2008) and 0.88 (2015–2016) for endoscopy. The sensitivity of UGIS decreased from 23.6% (2007–2008) to 17.6% (2015–2016), whereas that of endoscopy increased from 66.4% (2007–2008) to 69.3% (2015–2016). Specificity was maintained at > 99% for both methods over the study period.

Conclusion

The use of endoscopy for gastric cancer screening within the KNCSP has increased. Endoscopy has higher CDR, sensitivity, and specificity, and lower ICR estimates than does UGIS.

Prevalence and characteristics of post-gastroscopy gastric cancer: A retrospective study from an academic medical center

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Gastric cancer is diagnosed by endoscopy but false negative rates of up to 10% in the west and 40% in Asia have been reported. In Lebanon, little is known about the rates of post-gastroscopy gastric cancer (PGGC), defined as the proportion of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer with a negative previous examination within 2 years of diagnosis. We aimed to examine the rate of PGGC and its risk factors, clinico-pathologic and endoscopic characteristics at a University medical Center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients with histologically proven gastric malignancy over the last 14 years. Patients with history of upper endoscopy preceding the index diagnostic endoscopy by 6 to 24 months were included.

RESULTS

18,976 patients underwent upper endoscopy and gastric cancer was diagnosed in 323 (1.7%). Of those, only 4 (1.2%) had a preceding endoscopy within 6 to 24 months of diagnosis: 3 adenocarcinoma and one MALT lymphoma. Upon review of the initial endoscopy, a mucosal abnormality had been noted in all 4 patients and biopsies taken in 3 were negative for cancer. The mean time to cancer diagnosis was 8 months (range 6-13 months).

CONCLUSION

A small proportion of gastric carcinomas are missed on endoscopy in this study. Patients with endoscopic evidence of mucosal abnormalities and negative biopsies should undergo repeat examination with multiple biopsies. Proper endoscopic technique, lesion recognition and adoption of performance improvement measures are important to optimize endoscopic practice.

Geographic and Socioeconomic Disparity of Gastric Cancer Patients in Canada

Gastric cancer is the 5th most common malignancy worldwide, representing ~5–10% of all new cancer cases. Although its incidence is declining, it is estimated that 1 in 98 Canadians will develop gastric cancer in their lifetime. The epidemiology and distribution of gastric cancer throughout Canada, however, remains poorly understood. A retrospective analysis of demographic data across Canada between 1992 and 2010 was performed using 2 population-based cancer registries. The incidence of gastric cancer was examined at the levels of provinces, cities, and postal codes. In addition, 43,955 patients were diagnosed with gastric cancer in Canada between 1992 and 2010; 66% were male and the average age of diagnosis was 68.4 years. The age-adjusted incidence rate was 5.07 cases per 100,000 individuals per year. The incidence decreased over the study period by 30%. High incidence rates were identified in rural areas of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Quebec. Our study found a significant association between gastric cancer incidence rates and lower socioeconomic status, as well as Hispanic ethnicity. This is the first study to provide a comprehensive analysis of the incidence of gastric carcinoma in Canada, identifying high-risk populations that may benefit from increased primary and secondary prevention.

Cell-free DNA as a liquid biopsy for early detection of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with poor prognosis worldwide, mainly due to the lack of suitable modalities for population-based screening and early detection of this disease. Therefore, novel and less invasive tests with improved clinical utility are urgently required. The remarkable advances in genomics and proteomics, along with emerging new technologies for highly sensitive detection of genetic alterations, have shown the potential to map the genomic makeup of a tumor in liquid biopsies, in order to assist with early detection and clinical management. The present review summarize the current status in the identification and development of cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based biomarkers in GC, and also discusses their potential utility and the technical challenges in developing practical cfDNA-based liquid biopsy for early detection of GC.

Initial results from a multi-center population-based cluster randomized trial of esophageal and gastric cancer screening in China

Background

We initiated the first multi-center cluster randomized trial of endoscopic screening for esophageal cancer and gastric cancer in China. The objective of the study was to report the baseline screening findings in this trial.

Methods

We recruited a total of 345 eligible clusters from seven screening centers. In the intervention group, participants from high-risk areas were screened by endoscopy; in non-high-risk areas, high-risk individuals were identified using a questionnaire and advised for endoscopy. Lugol’s iodine staining in esophagus and indigo carmine dye in stomach were performed to aid in the diagnosis of suspicious lesions. The primary outcomes of this study were the detection rate (proportion of positive cases among individuals who underwent endoscopic screening) and early detection rate (the proportion of positive cases with stage 0/I among all positive cases).

Results

A total of 149,956 eligible subjects were included. The detection rate was 0.7% in esophagus and 0.8% in stomach, respectively. Compared with non-high-risk areas, the detection rates in high-risk areas were higher, both in esophagus (0.9% vs. 0.1%) and in stomach (0.9% vs. 0.3%). The same difference was found for early-detection rate (esophagus: 92.9% vs. 53.3%; stomach: 81.5% vs. 33.3%).

Conclusions

The diagnostic yield of both esophagus and stomach were higher in high-risk areas than in non-high-risk areas, even though in non-high-risk areas, only high-risk individuals were screened. Our study may provide important clues for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of upper-endoscopic screening in China.

Trial registration: Protocol Registration System in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-EOR-16008577. Registered 01 June 2016-Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=14372

Association Between Gastric Lymphoid Follicles (Precursor Of MALT Lymphomas) And H. pylori Infection At A Referral Hospital In Iran

Purpose

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is the most common endoscopic finding in Helicobacter pylori positive patients that can progress to MALT lymphoma after a prolonged antigenic contact. This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of lymphoid follicles and aggregates (precursors of MALT lymphomas) in gastric mucosal biopsies and their correlation with H. pylori infection.

Patients and methods

In this study, 100 patients who had undergone an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled. Five biopsy specimens were taken each patient through screening endoscopy and histopathological changes were evaluated and graded using the Wotherspoon System. The clinical background and H. pylori infection status were also investigated.

Results

Among the 100 cases in our series, 79 patients (79%) showed evidence of MALT in at least one biopsy specimen taken from the stomach and 21 cases (21%) had no evidence of MALT. H. pylori infection was detected in 74 (74%) patients. Lymphoid follicles were detected more frequently in H. pylori-positive patients (59%) compared to H. pylori-negative cases (3%) (P<0.001).

Conclusion

The frequency of lymphoid follicles and aggregates in gastric mucosal is associated with H. pylori infection. Further community-based studies in larger sample sizes using a combination of microscopic methods and PCR assay are required for effective monitoring of H. pylori infection.

Endoscopic Screening in Asian Countries Is Associated With Reduced Gastric Cancer Mortality: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

It is not clear how endoscopic screening for gastric cancer affects incidence or mortality. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between endoscopic screening for gastric cancer and mortality and incidence.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of PubMed and EMBASE for published cohort and case-control studies of adults without gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic screening at least once that included a comparator and reported outcomes of mortality or incidence through March 8, 2018. Two investigators independently reviewed the included studies and extracted relevant data. The effect estimate of interest was the relative risk (RR). We used a random effects model to combine RRs and 95% confidence intervals (Cis).

RESULTS

Our final analysis included 6 cohort studies and 4 nested case-control studies comprising 342,013 individuals, all from Asia. The combined result (RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.49-0.73) indicated that endoscopic screening was associated with a 40% RR reduction in gastric cancer mortality. We did not observe an association between endoscopic screening and incidence (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.93-1.40). Subgroup analysis showed significant reductions in gastric cancer mortality after endoscopic screening compared with no screening (RR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.48-0.70) or radiographic screening (RR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12-0.91). However, endoscopic screening did not significantly reduce mortality compared with expected deaths (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.38-1.16).

CONCLUSIONS

In a systematic review and meta-analysis, we found that endoscopic screening may reduce the risk of death from gastric cancer and not affect incidence in Asian countries. Population-based prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Metaplasia: tissue injury adaptation and a precursor to the dysplasia-cancer sequence

Metaplasia is the replacement of one differentiated somatic cell type with another differentiated somatic cell type in the same tissue. Typically, metaplasia is triggered by environmental stimuli, which may act in concert with the deleterious effects of microorganisms and inflammation. The cell of origin for intestinal metaplasia in the oesophagus and stomach and for pancreatic acinar-ductal metaplasia has been posited through genetic mouse models and lineage tracing but has not been identified in other types of metaplasia, such as squamous metaplasia. A hallmark of metaplasia is a change in cellular identity, and this process can be regulated by transcription factors that initiate and/or maintain cellular identity, perhaps in concert with epigenetic reprogramming. Universally, metaplasia is a precursor to low-grade dysplasia, which can culminate in high-grade dysplasia and carcinoma. Improved clinical screening for and surveillance of metaplasia might lead to better prevention or early detection of dysplasia and cancer.

Is Preoperative Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Obese Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery Mandatory? An Asian Perspective

BACKGROUND

The role of routine preoperative oesopha gogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) for all bariatric surgery candidates is controversial. We aim to investigate the prevalence of clinically significant OGD findings in a primarily Chinese obese population and identify factors that predict a normal screening OGD.

METHODS

Medical records of patients who underwent primary bariatric surgery in our centre from August 2002 to December 2014 were reviewed. OGD findings were classified into two groups: group 1 consisted of normal findings and abnormal findings that would not alter the surgical plan; group 2 consisted of lesions that might delay or alter the surgical procedure.

RESULTS

We identified 268 patients (169 female), of mean age 39.1 ± 10.8 years, mean baseline body weight 108.7 ± 6.1 kg and mean body mass index (BMI) 40.3 ± 6.1 kg/m² for analysis. Overall prevalence of abnormal OGD findings was 51.1 %, which included gastritis (32.5 %), hiatus hernia (17.9 %), duodenitis (8.6 %) and erosive oesophagitis (7.5 %); 27.2 % had group 2 lesions. Univariate analysis revealed older age (p = 0.016), use of NSAIDs (p = 0.004) and presence of reflux symptoms (p = 0.029) as significant risk factors of group 2 lesions. On multivariate analysis, use of NSAIDs (p = 0.015) and reflux symptoms (p = 0.039) remained significant predictive factors. In the low-risk subgroup (40 years and younger, without reflux symptoms or use of NSAIDs), the prevalence of group 2 abnormalities was 18.9 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant endoscopic abnormalities are common among obese Chinese patients which may delay or change the surgical plan. The negative predictive value in low-risk patients was not strong. We therefore recommend routine preoperative endoscopy for all patients.

An update in the endoscopic management of gastric cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide and gastroenterologists are playing an increasingly larger role in its management. This article reviews the endoscopic management of gastric cancer, with emphasis on recent advances in the field.

RECENT FINDINGS

Long-term studies comparing surgery and endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer have shown no difference in 10-year survival rates. Second-look endoscopy, performed 2 days after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to address the concern of delayed bleeding, may not affect rebleeding rates. Magnesium, proton pump inhibitors, and bupivacaine may help reduce post-ESD pain. New devices such as the Clutch Cutter and EndoLifter may help make ESD easier and safer.

SUMMARY

Endoscopic therapy for early gastric cancer is becoming increasingly popular and innovations are constantly being made to improve technique and technology. This review focuses on the latest approaches to the endoscopic management of gastric cancer.

Clinical characteristics of primary gastric lymphoma detected during screening for gastric cancer in Korea

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The role of screening endoscopy in primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) has not been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PGLs detected by screening endoscopy in the high prevalence area of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study enrolled consecutive subjects who were diagnosed with PGL by endoscopic screening in Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea, between October 2003 and September 2013. The characteristics and outcome of screening-detected patients (screening group) were compared with consecutive subjects diagnosed with PGL in the outpatient clinic (outpatient group).

RESULTS

Of the 105 194 recipients of screening upper endoscopy, 52 (0.049%) were found to have PGL. The median age was 54.2 years (range 23-79), and 65.4% were women. The proportion of PGL to gastric malignancy was 12.1% (52/429) overall, but >30% (25/73) in middle-aged (40-59) women. PGLs in the screening group were more likely to be mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (98.1% vs 60.0%, P < 0.001) and treated with H. pylori eradication alone (90.0% vs 48.1%, P < 0.001) than those in the outpatient group. Moreover, the screening group showed better 5-year overall survival (100.0% vs 89.3%, P = 0.016) and progression-free survival (94.9% vs 83.4%, P = 0.040) than the outpatient group.

CONCLUSIONS

In Korea, a high prevalence area of H. pylori infection, PGL seems more prevalent than in Western countries. Endoscopic screening may help to detect early stage H. pylori-positive mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. A high index of suspicion is needed, especially in middle-aged women.

Staging for Remnant Gastric Cancer: The Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio vs. the UICC 7th Edition System

BACKGROUND

Unlike primary gastric cancer, a remnant gastric cancer (RGC) staging system has not been established. The retrieved lymph node counts (RLN) in RGC is generally lower than that in primary gastric cancer, so it is unclear whether positive lymph node count reflects the RGC patient's survival. Therefore, the lymph node ratio (LR) may be more useful for RGC staging than the 7th edition UICC classification.

METHODS

Patients (n = 191) who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent for RGC participated in this study. LR was classified as LR = 0, 0 < LR ≤ 0.1, 0.1 < LR ≤ 0.4, and 0.4 < LR. Modified TNM staging (mTNM-LR) was established by combining the pT (7th UICC) with LR. The predictive accuracy of LR and mTNM-LR was compared with that of the pN (7th UICC) and TNM (7th UICC), respectively.

RESULTS

The mean RLN was 14.4 and that of 128 patients (67 %) was ≤15. Fifty-one patients (27 %) had metastatic lymph nodes. Multivariable analyses revealed that pT (7th UICC) (p < 0.001) and pN (7th UICC) (p = 0.001), but not LR, were independent risk factors for overall survival. The overall c-index (95 % confidence interval) of each staging system was as follows: pN (7th UICC): 0.700 (0.627-0.771); LR: 0.701 (0.627-0.775), TNM (7th UICC): 0.808 (0.761-0.870); mTNM-LR: 0.807 (0.737-0.871). There were no significant differences in the predictive accuracy between pN (7th UICC) and LR, and TNM (7th UICC) and mTNM-LR.

CONCLUSIONS

LR was not superior to pN (7th UICC). Thus, the 7th edition UICC classification is a practical and reliable staging system for RGC.

Management of Suspicious Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in Gastric Biopsy Specimens Obtained during Screening Endoscopy

It is often difficult to differentiate gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma from Helicobacter pylori-associated follicular gastritis, and thus, it becomes unclear how to manage these diseases. This study aimed to explore the management strategy for and the long-term outcomes of suspicious gastric MALT lymphoma detected by forceps biopsy during screening upper endoscopy. Between October 2003 and May 2013, consecutive subjects who were diagnosed with suspicious gastric MALT lymphomas by screening endoscopy in a health checkup program in Korea were retrospectively enrolled. Suspicious MALT lymphoma was defined as a Wotherspoon score of 3 or 4 upon pathological evaluation of the biopsy specimen. Of 105,164 subjects who underwent screening endoscopies, 49 patients with suspicious MALT lymphomas who underwent subsequent endoscopy were enrolled. Eight patients received a subsequent endoscopy without H. pylori eradication (subsequent endoscopy only group), and 41 patients received H. pylori eradication first followed by endoscopy (eradication first group). MALT lymphoma development was significantly lower in the eradication first group (2/41, 4.9%) than in the subsequent endoscopy only group (3/8, 37.5%, P = 0.026). Notably, among 35 patients with successful H. pylori eradication, there was only one MALT lymphoma patient (2.9%) in whom complete remission was achieved, and there was no recurrence during a median 45 months of endoscopic follow-up. H. pylori eradication with subsequent endoscopy would be a practical management option for suspicious MALT lymphoma detected in a forceps biopsy specimen obtained during screening upper endoscopy.

Massive Endoscopic Screening for Esophageal and Gastric Cancers in a High-Risk Area of China

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to describe the findings from a massive endoscopic screening program in a high-risk area of China and to evaluate the prognosis of patients diagnosed through endoscopic screening compared with those diagnosed at usual hospital visits because of illness.

METHODS

In 2006, an early detection and treatment program was initiated in Yangzhong county, China. Local residents aged 40-69 years were eligible for free endoscopic screening. Endoscopic examination was performed with Lugol's iodine staining, followed by biopsies. Patients diagnosed with esophageal or gastric cancer were referred for treatment and followed to assess their long-term survival status.

RESULTS

From 2006 through 2012, we screened 12453 participants, including 5334 (42.8%) men and 7119 (57.2%) women. The average age was 52.8 ± 8.0 years. We detected 166 patients with upper digestive tract cancers, including 106 cancers in the esophagus (detection rate: 0.85%) and 60 cancers in the stomach (detection rate: 0.48%). Of these patients, 98.11% with esophageal cancer and 100% with gastric cancer were defined as at the early stage. In the process of follow-up, 17 patients died from cancer-related causes, and the median survival time was greater than 85 months. The overall survival rates for 1, 3 and 5 years were 98.0%, 90.0% and 89.0%, respectively. A significant positive effect was observed for the long-term survival of patients diagnosed through massive endoscopic screening.

CONCLUSIONS

In a high-risk population, massive endoscopic screening can identify early stage carcinoma of esophageal and gastric cancers and improve patients' prognosis through early detection and treatment.

Difficulty of predicting the presence of lymph node metastases in patients with clinical early stage gastric cancer: a case control study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between pathological factors and lymph node metastasis of pathological stage early gastric cancer has been extensively investigated. By contrast, the relationship between preoperative factors and lymph node metastasis of clinical stage early gastric cancer has not been investigated. The present study was to investigate discrepancies between preoperative and postoperative values.

METHODS

From January 2011 to December 2013, 1042 patients with clinical stage early gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy were enrolled. Preoperative and postoperative values were collected for subsequent analysis. Receiver operating characteristics curves were computed using independent predictive factors.

RESULTS

Several discrepancies were observed between preoperative and postoperative values, including existence of ulcer, gross type, and histology (all McNemar p-values were <0.001). Multivariate analyses identified the following independent predictive factors for lymph node metastasis: postoperative values including age (p = 0.002), tumor size (p < 0.001), and tumor depth (p < 0.001); preoperative values including age (p = 0.017), existence of ulcer (p = 0.037), tumor size (p = 0.009), and prediction of the presence of lymph node metastasis in computed tomography scans (p = 0.002). These postoperative and preoperative independent predictive factors produced areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves of 0.824 and 0.660, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgeons need to be aware of limitations in preoperative predictions of the presence of lymph node metastasis for clinical stage early gastric cancer.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of interval gastric cancer in Korea

Background/Aims

Interval gastric cancer (IGC) is defined as cancer that is diagnosed between the time of screening and postscreening esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Unfortunately, little is known about the characteristics of IGC in Korea, a country with a high incidence of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of IGCs in Korea.

Methods

From January 2006 to July 2011, a total of 81,762 subjects underwent screening EGD at Yonsei University Health Promotion Center, Seoul, Korea. We defined missed cancer as cancer diagnosed within 1 year of screening EGD and latent cancer as cancer diagnosed more than 1 year after EGD.

Results

A total of 16 IGC patients (17 lesions; three missed cancers and 14 latent cancers) were identified, with a mean age of 60.68 years and a mean interval time of 19.64 months. IGCs tended to be undifferentiated (12/17, 70.6%), located in the lower body of the stomach (12/17, 70.6%) and exhibited flat/depressed endoscopic morphology (11/17, 64.7%). The patients with missed cancer were generally younger than the patients with latent cancer (51.3 years vs 62.8 years, p=0.037), and the patients with undifferentiated cancer were significantly younger than those with differentiated cancer (57.0 years vs 68.8 years, p=0.008).

Conclusions

IGCs tended to be undifferentiated, located in the lower body of the stomach, and exhibited flat/depressed endoscopic morphology.

Is screening and surveillance for early detection of gastric cancer needed in Korean Americans?

The incidence rate of gastric cancer in Korean Americans is over five times higher than that in non-Hispanic whites, and is similar to the incidence of colorectal cancer in the overall United States population. In Korea, the National Cancer Screening Program recommends endoscopy or upper gastrointestinal series for people aged 40 years and older every 2 years. However, the benefit of gastric cancer screening in Korean Americans has not been evaluated. Based on epidemiologic studies, Korean Americans appear to have more similar gastric cancer risk factors to Koreans as opposed to Americans of European descent, though the risk of gastric cancer appears to decrease for subsequent generations. Therefore, in accordance with recent recommendations regarding screening for gastric cancer in Korea, endoscopic screening for gastric cancer in Korean Americans should be considered, especially in those with known atrophic gastritis/intestinal metaplasia or a family history of gastric cancer. In the future, additional studies will needed to assess whether a screening program for gastric cancer in Korean Americans will result in a survival benefit.

Optimizing early upper gastrointestinal cancer detection at endoscopy

Survival rates for upper gastrointestinal cancers are poor and oesophageal cancer incidence is increasing. Upper gastrointestinal cancer is also often missed during examinations; a predicament that has not yet been sufficiently addressed. Improvements in the detection of premalignant lesions, early oesophageal and gastric cancers will enable organ-preserving endoscopic therapy, potentially reducing the number of advanced upper gastrointestinal cancers and resulting in improved prognosis. Japan is a world leader in high-quality diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the clinical routine in this country differs substantially from Western practice. In this Perspectives article, we review lessons learnt from Japanese gastroscopy technique, training and screening for risk stratification. We suggest a key performance indicator for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with a minimum total procedure time of 8 min, and examine how quality assurance concepts in bowel cancer screening in the UK could be applied to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and improve clinical practice.

Value of screening endoscopy in evaluation of esophageal, gastric and colon cancers

Esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers are deadly diseases that continue to plague our world today. The value of screening endoscopy in evaluating these types of cancers is a critical area of discussion due to a potential reduction in morbidity and mortality. This article describes how to identify a good screening test and explains what are important criteria in the field of screening endoscopy. Furthermore, the current status and progress of screening endoscopy for esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancer will be evaluated and discussed. Mass screening programs have not been implemented for esophageal and gastric carcinomas in those with average or low risk populations. However, studies of high-risk populations have found value and a cost-benefit in conducting screening endoscopy. Colorectal cancer, on the other hand, has had mass screening programs in place for many years due to the clear evidence of improved outcomes. As the role of endoscopy as a screening tool has continued to develop, newer technology and techniques have emerged to improve its utility. Many new image enhancement techniques and computer processing programs have shown promise and may have a significant role in the future of endoscopic screening. These developments are paving the way for improving the diagnostic and therapeutic capability of endoscopy in the field of gastroenterology.

Risk factors of developing interval early gastric cancer after negative endoscopy

BACKGROUND

New or missed gastric cancer rates after negative endoscopy are high. However, the clinicopathologic characteristics of missed or interval early gastric cancer (EGC) are not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathologic and endoscopic characteristics of missed or interval EGC after negative endoscopy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 1,055 patients with EGC confirmed by endoscopic resection or surgery between June 2006 and July 2013. Referred patients with diagnosed or suspected gastric neoplasms were excluded (n = 771). Interval EGC was defined as gastric cancer diagnosed within 2 years of negative endoscopy. Clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with initially detected and interval EGC and risk factors for interval EGC were investigated.

RESULTS

Of 284 patients, 52 had interval EGC (18.3 %; mean age 65.4 years; average interval between diagnosis and previous endoscopy, 12.6 months). Tumors were significantly smaller (1.3 vs. 1.8 cm, P < 0.001), and the incidence of metaplasia was significantly higher (90.4 vs. 65.9 %, P < 0.001) for interval EGC than for initially detected EGC. And no symptoms (50 vs. 17.7 %, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with interval EGC. However, tumor location, differentiation, gross morphology, and Helicobacter pylori infection status did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Subtle mucosal lesions with surrounding intestinal metaplasia were associated with interval EGC. Careful endoscopic screening for patients with intestinal metaplasia at short-term interval would be beneficial for decreasing interval EGC rates.

Significant differences in the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of gastric cancer patients from two cancer centers in china and Korea

PURPOSE

To compare the clinicopathological data and long-term survival of gastric cancer patients in China and Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1998 and 2009 in 2 high-volume institutions in both China (n=1,637) and Korea (n=2,231) were retrospectively evaluated. Clinicopathological variables, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and surgery-related complications were assessed for all patients and compared between the 2 institutions.

RESULTS

Chinese patients included in the study were significantly older and had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than the Korean patients. Esophagogastric junction tumors were more frequent in Chinese patients. However, the number of patients with stage I gastric cancer, the number of harvested lymph nodes, and the number of total gastrectomies were significantly higher in the Korean population. Korean patients also presented with fewer undifferentiated tumors than Chinese patients. Furthermore, Korean patients had prolonged OS and PFS for stage III cancers only. BMI, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor invasion, number of positive lymph nodes, and distant metastases were all independent factors affecting OS and PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Although China and Korea are neighboring Asian countries, the clinicopathological characteristics of Chinese patients are significantly different from those of Korean patients. Korean gastric cancer patients had longer OS and PFS than Chinese patients. Influencing factors included TNM stage, tumor invasion, and lymph node metastasis.

Implementation of gastric cancer screening - the global experience

Gastric cancer (GC) is still an important global healthcare problem, and in absolute figures it is going to remain at the present level in foreseeable future. In general, survival of patients with GC is poor mainly due to advanced-stage diagnosis. Early-stage GC can be cured by endoscopic resection or less invasive surgical treatment. Unfortunately, there is no appropriate screening strategy available for global application. This article provides a description of established national and regional GC screening programs and the screening modalities used. This review also summarizes current approaches to develop cancer-screening biomarkers. Although candidates with initial promising results have been suggested, moving discovery into clinical practice is still a major challenge. Well-designed biomarker studies, with systematic validation steps, are needed to decrease the burden of this fatal disease.

Screening for gastric cancer: the usefulness of endoscopy

Gastric cancer screening is common in countries with high prevalence rates of gastric cancer. However, data supporting the effectiveness of gastric cancer screening are lacking. Thus, the aim of this review was to examine the current evidence on gastric cancer screening. Herein, we reviewed radiographic and endoscopic tests as methods of gastric cancer screening. Previous cohort studies and case-control studies have demonstrated reduced gastric cancer mortality in study populations that had undergone gastric cancer screening with radiographic tests. Recently, a case-control study in Japan reported a 30% reduction in gastric cancer mortality when screening was undertaken via endoscopy. Also, endoscopic screening for gastric cancer exhibited higher sensitivity and specificity than radiographic screening. Moreover, most cost-effectiveness analyses on the best strategy for detecting early gastric cancer have generally concluded that endoscopy is more cost-effective than radiographic testing. Although data on the impact of endoscopy screening programs on gastric cancer mortality are limited, recent study results suggest that gastric cancer screening by endoscopy in average-risk populations performs better than radiography screening. Further evaluation of the impact of these screening methods should take into account cost and any associated reduction in gastric cancer mortality.

Prevention strategies for gastric cancer: a global perspective

Despite the substantial burden of gastric cancer worldwide, population strategies for primary prevention have not been introduced in any country. Recognizing the causal role of Helicobacter pylori infection, there is increasing interest in population-based programs to eradicate the infection to prevent gastric cancer. Nonetheless, the paucity of available evidence on feasibility and effectiveness has prevented implementation of this approach. There are very few secondary prevention programs based on screening with endoscopy or radiography, notably in the Republic of Korea and Japan, two of the countries with the highest incidence rates of gastric cancer. In Korea, where the organized screening program is in place, survival rate of gastric cancer is as high as 67%. More research is needed to quantify the specific contribution of the screening program to observed declines in mortality rates. Gastric cancer screening is unlikely to be feasible in many Low-Middle Income Countries where the gastric cancer burden is high. Prevention strategies are still under development and the optimal approach may differ depending on local conditions and societal values. The present review gives an overview of the etiology and burden of the disease, and possible prevention strategies for countries and regions confronted with a significant burden of disease.

Gastric cancer: prevention, screening and early diagnosis

Gastric cancer continues to be an important healthcare problem from a global perspective. Most of the cases in the Western world are diagnosed at late stages when the treatment is largely ineffective. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a well-established carcinogen for gastric cancer. While lifestyle factors are important, the efficacy of interventions in their modification, as in the use of antioxidant supplements, is unconvincing. No organized screening programs can be found outside Asia (Japan and South Korea). Although several screening approaches have been proposed, including indirect atrophy detection by measuring pepsinogen in the circulation, none of them have so far been implemented, and more study data is required to justify any implementation. Mass eradication of H. pylori in high-risk areas tends to be cost-effective, but its adverse effects and resistance remain a concern. Searches for new screening biomarkers, including microRNA and cancer-autoantibody panels, as well as detection of volatile organic compounds in the breath, are in progress. Endoscopy with a proper biopsy follow-up remains the standard for early detection of cancer and related premalignant lesions. At the same time, new advanced high-resolution endoscopic technologies are showing promising results with respect to diagnosing mucosal lesions visually and targeting each biopsy. New histological risk stratifications (classifications), including OLGA and OLGIM, have recently been developed. This review addresses the current means for gastric cancer primary and secondary prevention, the available and emerging methods for screening, and new developments in endoscopic detection of early lesions of the stomach.

Outcomes of surgical treatment for gastric cancer patients: 11-year experience of a Chinese high-volume hospital

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. We report our experience with surgery-related parameters and survival outcomes at a single Chinese center. This study analyzed patients following gastric resection between 2000 and 2010, and overall survival was the primary end point. In this study, 1,936 patients who underwent gastrectomy were collected from 2000 to 2010. Curative gastrectomy (R0 resection) was performed in 86.6 % of patients. D1/D1+ lymphadenectomy was frequently performed from 2000 to 2005, and the proportion of D2/D2+ lymphadenectomy increased after 2006. The number of harvested lymph nodes was 10.1 ± 6.0 in 2000 and increased to 28.0 ± 10.5 in 2010. Serosa-invasive lesions (pT4) accounted for 67.9 % of all cases. The 1-year overall survival (OS), 2-year OS, and 3-year OS rates were 89, 74, and 63 %, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified R status, tumor location, macroscopic type, and tumor stage (pT stage and pN stage) as the independent risk factors for overall survival. The prognosis of gastric cancer patients in China remains dismal. To improve the survival outcomes, further efforts toward early detection and multi-disciplinary treatment are needed.

Risk factors and clinical outcomes of gastric cancer identified by screening endoscopy: a case-control study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A customized screening program for gastric cancer would optimize the benefits of screening endoscopy. This study investigated the risk factors for gastric cancer detected during screening and factors affecting clinical outcomes.

METHODS

From April 2000 to December 2010, subjects who underwent screening endoscopy at Asan Medical Center were included. To investigate risk factors, age- and sex-matched control group was selected. The clinical outcomes of gastric cancer identified during screening (screening group) were compared with age, sex, and date of diagnosis-matched subjects who were diagnosed with gastric cancer in the outpatient clinic (outpatient group).

RESULTS

Of 109 530 subjects, 327 were diagnosed with gastric cancer. The median age of the screening group was 63.6 years (interquartile range 56-71 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 2.4:1. When comparing with the control group, Helicobacter pylori seropositivity (odds ratio [OR] 2.933, P < 0.001), carcinoembryonic antigen (OR 8.633, P = 0.004), family history of gastric cancer (OR 2.254, P = 0.007), and drinking (OR 3.312, P < 0.001) were independent positive risk factors, and the use of aspirin a negative risk factor for gastric cancer (OR 0.445, P = 0.012) in multivariate analysis. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (hazard ratio [HR] 0.987, P = 0.005), cancer antigen 19-9 (HR 21.713, P < 0.001), resectability (HR 59.833, P < 0.001), and family history (HR 0.308, P = 0.009) were independent risk factors for death. The 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in the screening group than in the outpatient group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Early detection of gastric cancer by screening endoscopy while asymptomatic enhances patient outcomes, especially in high-risk groups.

Timing of chemotherapy and survival in patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the timing of chemotherapy in gastric cancer by comparing survival outcomes in treatment groups.

METHODS: Patients with surgically resected gastric adenocarcinoma from 1988 to 2006 were identified from the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program. To evaluate the population most likely to receive and/or benefit from adjunct chemotherapy, inclusion criteria consisted of Stage II or III gastric cancer patients > 18 years of age who underwent curative-intent surgical resection. Patients were categorized into three groups according to the receipt of chemotherapy: (1) no chemotherapy; (2) preoperative chemotherapy; or (3) postoperative chemotherapy. Clinical and pathologic characteristics were compared across the different treatment arms.

RESULTS: Of 1518 patients with surgically resected gastric cancer, 327 (21.5%) received perioperative chemotherapy. The majority of these 327 patients were male (68%) with a mean age of 61.5 years; and they were significantly younger than non-chemotherapy patients (mean age, 70.7; P < 0.001). Most patients had tumors frequently located in the distal stomach (34.5%). Preoperative chemotherapy was administered to 11.3% of patients (n = 37) and postoperative therapy to 88.7% of patients (n = 290). An overall survival benefit according to timing of chemotherapy was not observed on univariate or multivariate analysis. Similar results were observed with stage-specific survival analyses (5-year overall survival: Stage II, 25% vs 30%, respectively; Stage III, 14% vs 11%, respectively). Therefore, our results do not identify a survival advantage for specific timing of chemotherapy in locally advanced gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION: This study supports the implementation of a randomized trial comparing the timing of perioperative therapy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

Cost-effectiveness outcomes of the national gastric cancer screening program in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Although screening is necessary where gastric cancer is particularly common in Asia, the performance outcomes of mass screening programs have remained unclear. This study was conducted to evaluate cost-effectiveness outcomes of the national cancer screening program (NCSP) for gastric cancer in South Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

People aged 40 years or over during 2002-2003 (baseline) were the target population. Screening recipients and patients diagnosed with gastric cancers were identified using the NCSP and Korea Central Cancer Registry databases. Clinical outcomes were measured in terms of mortality and life-years saved (LYS) of gastric cancer patients during 7 years based on merged data from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation and National Statistical Office. We considered direct, indirect, and productivity-loss costs associated with screening attendance. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) estimates were produced according to screening method, sex, and age group compared to non-screening.

RESULTS

The age-adjusted ICER for survival was 260,201,000-371,011,000 Korean Won (KW; 1USD=1,088 KW) for the upper-gastrointestinal (UGI) tract over non-screening. Endoscopy ICERs were lower (119,099,000-178,700,000 KW/survival) than UGI. To increase 1 life-year, additional costs of approximately 14,466,000-15,014,000 KW and 8,817,000-9,755,000 KW were required for UGI and endoscopy, respectively. Endoscopy was the most cost-effective strategy for males and females. With regard to sensitivity analyses varying based on the upper age limit, endoscopy NCSP was dominant for both males and females. For males, an upper limit of age 75 or 80 years could be considered. ICER estimates for LYS indicate that the gastric cancer screening program in Korea is cost-effective.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopy should be recommended as a first-line method in Korea because it is beneficial among the Korean population.

Sensitivity of endoscopic screening for gastric cancer by the incidence method

Although radiographic screening for gastric cancer has been conducted in Japan, it is anticipated that endoscopy will become a new screening method because of its high detection rate. The sensitivities of endoscopic and radiographic screening were calculated by the detection method and the incidence method based on the results of community-based screening in Japan. There were 56,676 screenings for gastric cancer using endoscopy and radiography from April 2002 to March 2007 in Yonago, Japan. The target age group was from 40 to 79 years. Screen-detected and interval cancers were investigated based on a screening database linked to the Tottori Cancer Registry. All gastric cancers diagnosed within 1 year after a negative screen were considered interval cancers. Based on the screening history, these were divided into prevalence screening and incidence screening. Prevalence screenings included 7,388 for endoscopic screening and 5,410 for radiographic screening, whereas incidence screenings included 18,021 for endoscopic screening and 11,417 for radiographic screening. The sensitivity of prevalence screening calculated by the incidence method was 0.886 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.698-0.976) for endoscopic screening and 0.831 (95% CI = 0.586-0.964) for radiographic screening; however, the difference was not significant (p = 0.626). The sensitivity of incidence screening calculated by the incidence method was 0.954 (95% CI = 0.842-0.994) for endoscopic screening and 0.855 (95% CI = 0.637-0.970) for radiographic screening (p = 0.177). Endoscopic screening for gastric cancer had a higher sensitivity than radiographic screening by the incidence method in both screening rounds. However, further study is needed to evaluate mortality reduction and to estimate overdiagnosis with endoscopic screening for gastric cancer.

Performance of different gastric cancer screening methods in Korea: a population-based study

Background

There is a lack of agreement on which gastric cancer screening method is the most effective in the general population. The present study compared the relative performance of upper-gastrointestinal series (UGIS) and endoscopy screening for gastric cancer.

Methods

A population-based study was conducted using the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) database. We analyzed data on 2,690,731 men and women in Korea who underwent either UGIS or endoscopy screening for gastric cancer between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2005. Final gastric cancer diagnosis was ascertained through linkage with the Korean Central Cancer Registry. We calculated positivity rate, gastric cancer detection rate, interval cancer rate, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of UGIS and endoscopy screening.

Results

The positivity rates for UGIS and endoscopy screening were 39.7 and 42.1 per 1,000 screenings, respectively. Gastric cancer detection rates were 0.68 and 2.61 per 1,000 screenings, respectively. In total, 2,067 interval cancers occurred within 1 year of a negative UGIS screening result (rate, 1.17/1,000) and 1,083 after a negative endoscopy screening result (rate, 1.17/1,000). The sensitivity of UGIS and endoscopy screening to detect gastric cancer was 36.7 and 69.0%, respectively, and specificity was 96.1 and 96.0%. The sensitivity of endoscopy screening to detect localized gastric cancer was 65.7%, which was statistically significantly higher than that of UGIS screening.

Conclusion

Overall, endoscopy performed better than UGIS in the NCSP for gastric cancer. Further evaluation of the impact of these screening methods should take into account the corresponding costs and reduction in mortality.

Increased incidence of gastric cancer in renal transplant recipients

OBJECTIVE

The risk of malignancy after transplantation is regarded to be higher than in the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of gastric cancer in renal transplant recipients.

METHODS

A total of 820 renal transplantation recipients were invited for gastric cancer screening. Frequencies of gastric cancer in this cohort and in 10,080 asymptomatic subjects were compared. Cancer specimens were examined for Epstein-Barr virus by in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

A total of 509 recipients (mean age, 48.1 ± 10.7 y; men, 56.8%) participated. Fifteen (2.9%) and 10 (0.1%) cases of adenocarcinoma were identified among recipients and controls, respectively (P<0.001; odds ratio, 30.58). Early gastric cancer was detected in 9 of the 15 recipients, and 4 of the 9 were treated by endoscopic resection. Recipient age was found to be a significant factor of gastric cancer development. In cancer tissues, Epstein-Barr virus was detected in 5 (33.3%) renal recipients and in 1 (10%) of the controls, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of gastric cancer was found to be higher in renal recipients than in controls. Gastric cancer screening should be considered after transplantation, because it would provide cure by minimally invasive treatment.

Time to follow up after an abnormal finding in organized gastric cancer screening in Korea

Background

The prognosis for an abnormal medical finding is affected by both early detection and adherence to the presecribed schedule for follow-up examinations. In this study, we examined the time to follow up after an abnormal finding and determined the risk factors related to delays in follow up in a population-based screening program.

Methods

The study population consisted of patients who were newly diagnosed with gastric cancer through a gastric cancer screening program sponsored by the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in 2005. Due to the skewed nature of the distribution of time to follow up, medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) are presented, and we analyzed the number of days preceding the follow-up time as a binary variable (≤90 days or >90 days). We used logistic regression analyses to evaluate the risk factors for a long delay.

Results

The median number of days to follow-up initiation after an abnormal finding was 11 (IQR 7–27); 13.9% of the patients with gastric cancer obtained their follow-up evaluation more than 90 days. Age, type of health insurance, screening method, and screening results were risk factors for delays in follow up.

Conclusions

This study examined delays from the time of the discovery of an abnormal finding to time of the follow-up evaluation. Because inadequate follow up of abnormal exam results undermines the potential benefits of cancer screening, it is important to organize services that minimize delays between cancer screening and treatment.