Comparison of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection and Surgery for Differentiated Type Early Gastric Cancer within the Expanded Criteria

Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer 2024: An Evidence-based, Multidisciplinary Approach (Update of 2022 Guideline)

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in both Korea and worldwide. Since 2004, the Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer have been regularly updated, with the 4th edition published in 2022. The 4th edition was the result of a collaborative work by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and guideline development methodology. The current guideline is the 5th version, an updated version of the 4th edition. In this guideline, 6 key questions (KQs) were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group, and 7 statements were developed, or revised, or discussed based on a systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed database. Over the past 2 years, there have been significant changes in systemic treatment, leading to major updates and revisions focused on this area. Additionally, minor modifications have been made in other sections, incorporating recent research findings. The level of evidence and grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Key factors for recommendation included the level of evidence, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability. The working group reviewed and discussed the recommendations to reach a consensus. The structure of this guideline remains similar to the 2022 version. Earlier sections cover general considerations, such as screening, diagnosis, and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. In the latter sections, statements are provided for each KQ based on clinical evidence, with flowcharts supporting these statements through meta-analysis and references. This multidisciplinary, evidence-based gastric cancer guideline aims to support clinicians in providing optimal care for gastric cancer patients.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on endoscopic submucosal dissection for the management of early esophageal and gastric cancers: methodology and review of evidence

This document from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) provides a full description of the methodology used in the review of the evidence used to inform the final guidance outlined in the accompanying Summary and Recommendations document regarding the role of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the management of early esophageal and gastric cancers. This guideline used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework and specifically addresses the role of ESD versus EMR and/or surgery, where applicable, for the management of early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) and their corresponding precursor lesions. For ESCC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well-differentiated, nonulcerated cancer >15 mm, whereas in patients with similar lesions ≤15 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. The ASGE suggests against surgery for such patients with ESCC, whenever possible. For EAC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well-differentiated, nonulcerated cancer >20 mm, whereas in patients with similar lesions measuring ≤20 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. For GAC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well or moderately differentiated, nonulcerated intestinal type cancer measuring 20 to 30 mm, whereas for patients with similar lesions <20 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. The ASGE suggests against surgery for patients with such lesions measuring ≤30 mm, whereas for lesions that are poorly differentiated, regardless of size, the ASGE suggests surgical evaluation over endosic approaches.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on endoscopic submucosal dissection for the management of early esophageal and gastric cancers: summary and recommendations

This clinical practice guideline from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) provides an evidence-based summary and recommendations regarding the role of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the management of early esophageal and gastric cancers. It is accompanied by the document subtitled "Methodology and Review of Evidence," which provides a detailed account of the methodology used for the evidence review. This guideline was developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework and specifically addresses the role of ESD versus EMR and/or surgery, where applicable, for the management of early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) and their corresponding precursor lesions. For ESCC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well-differentiated, nonulcerated cancer >15 mm, whereas in patients with similar lesions ≤15 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. The ASGE suggests against surgery for such patients with ESCC, whenever possible. For EAC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well-differentiated, nonulcerated cancer >20 mm, whereas in patients with similar lesions measuring ≤20 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. For GAC, the ASGE suggests ESD over EMR for patients with early-stage, well- or moderately differentiated, nonulcerated intestinal type cancer measuring 20 to 30 mm, whereas for patients with similar lesions <20 mm, the ASGE suggests either ESD or EMR. The ASGE suggests against surgery for patients with such lesions measuring ≤30 mm, whereas for lesions that are poorly differentiated, regardless of size, we suggest surgical evaluation over endoscopic approaches.

Endoscopic Resection of Early Gastric Cancer and Pre-Malignant Gastric Lesions

Early gastric cancer comprises gastric malignancies that are confined to the mucosa or submucosa, irrespective of lymph node metastasis. Endoscopic resection is currently pivotal for the management of such early lesions, and it is the recommended treatment for tumors presenting a very low risk of lymph node metastasis. In general, these lesions consist of two groups of differentiated mucosal adenocarcinomas: non-ulcerated lesions (regardless of their size) and small ulcerated lesions. Endoscopic submucosal dissection is the technique of choice in most cases. This procedure has high rates of complete histological resection while maintaining gastric anatomy and its functions, resulting in fewer adverse events than surgery and having a lesser impact on patient-reported quality of life. Nonetheless, approximately 20% of resected lesions do not fulfill curative criteria and demand further treatment, highlighting the importance of patient selection. Additionally, the preservation of the stomach results in a moderate risk of metachronous lesions, which underlines the need for surveillance. We review the current evidence regarding the endoscopic treatment of early gastric cancer, including the short-and long-term results and management after resection.

A 6-year nationwide population-based study on the current status of gastric endoscopic resection in Korea using administrative data

Gastric endoscopic resection (ER) is widely performed in Korea. This study aimed to investigate the overall status of gastric ER in Korea. We enrolled ESD or EMR cases performed for gastric cancer and adenoma from 2012 to 2017 by searching the NHIS database. The annual trend of gastric ER and the clinical characteristics were investigated. Institutions were classified into very high-, high-, low-, and very low volume centers (VHVC, HVC, LVC, and VLVC) by the procedure numbers, and institutional types, regional distributions, and medical resources were investigated accordingly. There were 175,370 ER cases during the study period, with an increasing trend over time. The average annual ESD procedure numbers were 3.9, 54.5, 249.5, and 540.3 cases in 131 VLVCs, 119 LVCs, 24 HVCs, and 12 VHVCs, respectively. Among ESD-performing institutions, 44.8% were located in the Seoul Capital Area. The distribution of medical resources showed a positive correlation with the procedural volume. Similar tendencies were also demonstrated in EMR, with some differences in hospital types and regional distribution. Gastric ER and ESD are increasing in Korea. There was a significant variance in the number of ER procedures and the distribution of types, regions, and medical resources according to the procedural volume.

Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer 2022: An Evidence-based, Multidisciplinary Approach

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in Korea and the world. Since 2004, this is the 4th gastric cancer guideline published in Korea which is the revised version of previous evidence-based approach in 2018. Current guideline is a collaborative work of the interdisciplinary working group including experts in the field of gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology and guideline development methodology. Total of 33 key questions were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group and 40 statements were developed according to the systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and KoreaMed database. The level of evidence and the grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation proposition. Evidence level, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability was considered as the significant factors for recommendation. The working group reviewed recommendations and discussed for consensus. In the earlier part, general consideration discusses screening, diagnosis and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. Flowchart is depicted with statements which is supported by meta-analysis and references. Since clinical trial and systematic review was not suitable for postoperative oncologic and nutritional follow-up, working group agreed to conduct a nationwide survey investigating the clinical practice of all tertiary or general hospitals in Korea. The purpose of this survey was to provide baseline information on follow up. Herein we present a multidisciplinary-evidence based gastric cancer guideline.

Endoscopic Resection Versus Surgery in the Treatment of Early Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Aim

Endoscopic resection (ER) is the preferred approach to treat early gastric cancer (EGC) in patients without suspected lymph node involvement and that meet the criteria for ER. Surgery is a more aggressive treatment, but it may be associated with less recurrence and the need for reintervention. Previous meta-analyses comparing ER with surgery for EGC did not incorporate the most recent studies, making accurate conclusions not possible.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine complete resection, length of hospital stay (LOHS), adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, recurrence, 5-year overall survival (OS), and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with EGC.

Results

A total of 29 cohorts studies involving 20559 patients were included. The ER (n = 7709) group was associated with a lower incidence of AEs (RD = -0.07, 95%CI = -0.1, -0.04, p < 0.0001) and shorter LOHS (95% CI -5.89, -5.32; p < 0,00001) compared to surgery (n = 12850). However, ER was associated with lower complete resection rates (RD = -0.1, 95%CI = -0.15, -0.06; p < 0.00001) and higher rates of recurrence (RD = 0.07, 95%CI = 0.06; p < 0.00001). There were no significant differences between surgery and ER in 5-year OS (RD = -0.01, 95%CI = -0.04, 0.02; p = 0.38), 5-year CSS (RD = 0.01, 95%CI = 0.00, 0.02; p < 0.17), and incidence of serious AEs (RD = -0.03, 95%CI = -0.08, 0.01; p = 0.13).

Conclusions

ER and surgery are safe and effective treatments for EGC. ER provides lower rates of AEs and shorter LOHS compared to surgery. Although ER is associated with lower complete resection rates and a higher risk of recurrence, the OS and CSS were similar between both approaches.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42021255328.

Gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection in Western countries: Indications, applications, efficacy and training perspective

Endoscopic submucosal dissection was introduced in Japan for the mini-invasive treatment of early gastric cancer, as part of national screening program considering high prevalence of disease in these latitudes. This technique allows en-bloc curative oncological excision and to obtain in a single step R0-resection, characterization, histological staging and potential cure of the tumor with a very high cost-benefit balance. Over the years, Western endoscopists have adopted endoscopic submucosal dissection, achieving good rates of efficacy, long-term improved outcomes and safety, with low risk of local recurrence comparable to those obtained in Asian institutes. However, according to some authors, the excellent outcomes from East country could not be representative of the Western experience. Despite epidemiological differences of early gastric cancer, scant volume data and limitations in training opportunities between Western and Eastern countries, European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have adopted Japanese guidelines and developed a European core curriculum for endoscopic submucosal dissection training. Endoscopists should be able to estimate the probability of performing a curative resection by considering the benefit/risk relationship case-by-case in order to implement a correct decision-making process.

Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of gastric dysplasia and early cancer: Current evidence and what the future may hold

Gastric cancer accounts for a significant proportion of worldwide cancer-related morbidity and mortality. The well documented precancerous cascade provides an opportunity for clinicians to detect and treat gastric cancers at an endoscopically curable stage. In high prevalence regions such as Japan and Korea, this has led to the implementation of population screening programs. However, guidelines remain ambiguous in lower prevalence regions. In recent years, there have been many advances in the endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions. More advanced endoscopic imaging has led to improved detection and characterization of gastric lesions as well as superior accuracy for delineation of margins prior to resection. In addition, promising early data on artificial intelligence in gastroscopy suggests a future role for this technology in maximizing the yield of advanced endoscopic imaging. Data on endoscopic resection (ER) are particularly robust in Japan and Korea, with high rates of curative ER and markedly reduced procedural morbidity. However, there is a shortage of data in other regions to support the applicability of protocols from these high prevalence countries. Future advances in endoscopic therapeutics will likely lead to further expansion of the current indications for ER, as both technology and proceduralist expertise continue to grow.

Analysis of Endoscopy Findings to Identify Early Gastric Cancers with Tumor Budding: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

No reliable method has been reported for determining tumor budding with frozen sections during surgical procedures. This study investigated endoscopic features predictive of tumor budding in early gastric cancers (EGC).

METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated data from 137 patients diagnosed with EGC who underwent endoscopy, followed by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD); 71 patients underwent a second gastrectomy. Based on pathological analyses, lesions were categorized as being positive (n = 80) or negative for tumor budding (n = 57). Endoscopic features were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Patient survival rates were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

Mean age of our study population was 66 years (range, 31-86 years). The tumor budding-positive cohort (73.3 ± 5.9 years) was significantly older than the tumor budding-negative cohort (56.7 ± 7.6 years) (p < 0.001). Endoscopic features significantly different between tumor budding-positive and budding-negative groups included tumor size (p = 0.003), remarkable redness (p = 0.015), and margin elevation (p < 0.001). Tumor size (odds ratio (OR): 1.561; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.984, 2.285; p = 0.047) and margin elevation (OR: 2.141; 95% CI: 1.147, 5.117; p = 0.003) were independent predictors of tumor budding. Margin elevation was found in 19.3% of tumor budding-negative and 53.8% of budding-positive cases. In the tumor budding-positive group, ESD and second gastrectomy were associated with disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Margin elevation and large tumor size (> 29 mm) of EGCs on endoscopy are promising imaging biomarkers for predicting tumor budding in EGCs. ESD and a second gastrectomy can be better for tumor budding-positive patients with EGCs.

Narrowband imaging with near-focus magnification for discriminating the gastric tumor margin before endoscopic resection: A prospective randomized multicenter trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study investigated the usefulness of near-focus narrowband imaging (NF-NBI) for determining gastric tumor margins compared with indigo carmine chromoendoscopy (ICC) before endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

METHODS

This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted at seven teaching hospitals in Korea. Patients with gastric adenoma or differentiated adenocarcinoma undergoing ESD were enrolled and randomly assigned to the NF-NBI or ICC group. A marking dot was placed on the most proximal margin of the tumor before ESD. The primary endpoint was delineation accuracy, which was defined as presence of marking dots within 1 mm of the tumor margin under microscopic observation.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients in the NF-NBI group and 195 patients in the ICC group were included. The delineation accuracy rate was 84.5% in the NF-NBI group and 81.0% in the ICC group (P = 0.44). However, the distance from the marking dot to the margin of the tumor was significantly shorter in the NF-NBI group than in the ICC group (0.8 ± 0.8 vs 1.2 ± 1.3 mm, P < 0.01). Even after adjustment of other clinicopathological factors that are associated with difficulty of tumor delineation, NF-NBI did not show significant association with accurate delineation (odds ratio of 0.86, P = 0.60).

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective multicenter study showed that NF-NBI is not superior to ICC in terms of accurately delineating gastric tumors (NCT02661945).

Endoscopic submucosal dissection comparing with surgical resection in patients with early gastric cancer - A single center experience in Taiwan

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The choice of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as first line treatment for selected early gastric cancer (EGC) patients was proved as effective as surgical treatment in studies over many countries. Yet there is no such cohort comparison in Taiwan. This study is aimed to describe our experience in ESD treated EGC and to compare the outcomes with those underwent surgical treatment.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study reviewing the patients with EGC underwent ESD and surgical treatments in a single tertiary referral center in Taiwan. The primary endpoint was disease specific survival. Recurrence free survival and length of hospital stay were also compared.

RESULTS

The disease specific survival between indicated ESD and surgery showed no significant difference (cumulative survival 100% vs. 97.03%, p = 0.39), so as the recurrence free survival (cumulative survival 92.31% vs. 94.06%, p = 0.60). In subgroup analyses of ESD treated patients, a non-significant recurrence rate difference between indicated and non-indicated ESD was found (cumulative recurrence 7.69% vs. 20%, p = 0.39) and a higher recurrence rate in patients with non-R0 resection compared with R0 resection (cumulative recurrence 0% vs. 40%, p < 0.01). However, the shorter duration of hospital stay in ESD group was noted in comparison to surgery (mean 5.67 days vs. 15.75 days, p < 0.01). The ESD patients have minor complications including bleeding, perforation and fever than surgery.

CONCLUSION

ESD is a reasonable first line treatment in selected early gastric cancer in additional to surgery. Pre-treatment evaluation and post-ESD review of curability is crucial to further surveillance program or definite therapy including surgery.

Protocol for expanded indications of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in China: a multicenter, ambispective, observational, open-cohort study

BACKGROUND

The main treatment methods for early gastric cancer (EGC) include endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and radical gastrectomy. However, appropriate treatment for patients who exceed the absolute indications for ESD remains unestablished. In China, evidence-based medicine for the expanding indications of ESD and accurate diagnostic staging for EGC patients are lacking. Thus, clinical studies involving Chinese patients with EGC are necessary to select appropriate treatment options and promote China's expanded indications for ESD and diagnostic staging scheme.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, ambispective, observational, open-cohort study that is expected to enroll 554 patients with EGC. The study was launched in May 2018 and is scheduled to end in March 2022. All enrolled patients should meet the inclusion criteria. Case report forms and electronic data capture systems are used to obtain clinical data, which includes demographic information, results of perioperative blood- and auxiliary examinations, surgical information, results of postoperative pathology, and the outcomes of postoperative recovery and follow-up. Patients are followed up every 6 months after surgery for a minimum of 5 years. The primary endpoint is the rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM), whereas the secondary endpoints include the following: consistency, sensitivity, and specificity of the results of preoperative examinations and postoperative pathology; cut-off values for LNM; logistic regression model of expanded indications for ESD; and incidence of postoperative complications within the 30-day and 5-year relapse-free survival rates.

DISCUSSION

This study will explore and evaluate expanded indications for ESD that match the characteristics of the Chinese population in patients with EGC and will introduce a related staging procedure and examination scheme that is appropriate for China. Ethical approval was obtained from all participating centers. The findings are expected to be disseminated through publications or presentations and will facilitate clinical decision-making in EGC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The name of the registry is ChiCTR. It was registered on May 9, 2018, with the registration number ( ChiCTR1800016084 ). The clinical trial was launched in May 2018 and will end in March 2022, with enrollment to be completed by December 2021. Trial status: Ongoing.

Evaluation of Submucosal or Lymphovascular Invasion Detection Rates in Early Gastric Cancer Based on Pathology Section Interval

PURPOSE

The guidelines for pathological evaluation of early gastric cancer (EGC) recommend wider section intervals for surgical specimens (5-7 mm) than those for endoscopically resected specimens (2-3 mm). Studies in surgically resected EGC specimens showed not negligible lymph node metastasis risks in EGCs meeting the expanded criteria for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 401 EGC lesions with an endoscopic size of ≤ 30 mm detected in 386 patients. Pathological specimens obtained by ESD or surgery were cut into 2-mm section intervals for reference. Submucosal or lymphovascular invasion (LVI) was evaluated arbitrarily in 4- or 6-mm section intervals. McNemar's tests compared the differences between submucosal and LVI.

RESULTS

Submucosal invasion was detected in 29.2% (117/401) and LVI in 9.5% (38/401) at 2-mm interval. The submucosal invasion detection rates in 4-mm intervals decreased to 88.0% or 90.6% (both P<0.001), while the LVI detection rates decreased to 86.8% or 57.9% (P=0.025 and P<0.001, respectively). In 6-mm intervals, the submucosal and LVI detection rates decreased further to 72.7-80.3% (P<0.001 for all three sets) and 55.3-63.2% (P<0.001 for all three sets), respectively. Among 150 out-of-indication cases at 2-mm interval, 4-10 (2.7%-6.7%) at 4-mm intervals, and 10-17 (6.7%-11.3%) at 6-mm intervals were misclassified as lesions meeting the curative resection criteria due to the underestimation of submucosal or LVI.

CONCLUSIONS

After ESD, the 2-mm wide section interval was suitable for the pathological evaluation of focal submucosal or LVI. Thus, if an EGC lesion meets the expanded criteria for the ESD specimen pathological evaluation, it could be safely followed up.

Updated evaluation of endoscopic submucosal dissection versus surgery for early gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic resection (ER) has been a standard treatment modality for early gastric cancer with ignorable risks of lymph node metastasis. As for EGCs within expanded indications, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has considerable advantages over endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) regarding higher rate of en bloc resection, complete resection, but lower risk of local recurrence. Previous meta-analyses comparing ESD with surgery for EGC are scarce and not robust to reach definitive conclusions.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library Databases and Google Scholar through July 2019 to identify studies evaluating ESD vs surgery for EGC. Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess the quality of enrolled studies. Patient baseline characteristics, procedure-related and prognosis outcomes, and adverse event data were extracted and pooled for analyses by the Review Manager 5.3 software. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation guidelines (GRADE) were used to assess the quality of evidence. Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) was conducted to weaken random error and enhance the reliability of evidence.

RESULTS

Totally 18 retrospective studies, involving 5993 patients, were included. ESD benefits were 128.38 min shorter operation duration [95%CI: (-204.68, -52.09), P = 0.001], 7.13 days shorter hospital stay [95%CI: (-7.98, -6.28), P < 0.00001], lower risk of procedure-related death [OR = 0.21, 95%CI: (0.07, 0.68), P = 0.009], lower risk of overall complication [OR = 0.47, 95%CI: (0.34, 0.63), P < 0.00001]. ESD was also associated with lower costs and better quality of life. However, ESD had lower rate of en bloc resection [OR = 0.07, 95%CI: (0.03, 0.21), P < 0.00001], histologically complete resection [OR = 0.07, 95%CI: (0.03, 0.14), P < 0.00001], curative resection [OR = 0.06, 95%CI: (0.01, 0.27), P = 0.002], and higher rate of local recurrence [OR = 5.42, 95%CI: (2.91, 10.11), P < 0.00001], metachronous cancer [OR = 10.84, 95%CI: (6.43, 18.26), P < 0.00001], synchronous cancer [OR = 6.59, 95%CI: (1.96, 22.1), P = 0.002]. ESD also led to lower disease-free survival [HR = 4.58, 95%CI: (2.79, 7.52), P < 0.00001] and recurrence-free survival [HR = 1.99, 95%CI: (1.38, 2.87), P = 0.0002]. No significant differences in overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) between ESD and surgery were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

ESD offers a method of less expensive, less trauma, faster recovery and better quality of life compared to surgery for EGC. However, ESD is associated with higher risk of recurrence without compromising OS and DSS. Strict and careful surveillance after ESD is needed. Recurrent EGCs following ESD can usually be detected in early stage and successfully managed by repeated ESD. Accordingly, ESD technique provides an alternative to surgical resection for highly selected EGC patients.

Sex-specific differences in risk factors of lymph node metastasis in patients with early gastric cancer

Accurate prediction of lymph node status is of crucial importance in the appropriate treatment planning for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). Some studies have examined factors predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in EGC; however, these studies did not consider sex-specific differences. This study aimed to investigate sex-specific differences in predictive risk factors of LNM in EGC based on surgical specimens. Patients who underwent surgical treatment for EGC between January 2003 and February 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients who underwent previous gastric surgery or treatment for gastric neoplasms were excluded. Finally, 1076 patients treated for EGC were included in the analysis. We analyzed risk factors of LNM by dividing patients into male and female groups. Of 1076 patients (mean age 59.6 years), 69% were men. The overall LNM rate was 9.4%. The LNM rate was lower in men (7.8%) than in women (12.9%). Multivariate analysis showed that elevated type (odds ratio [OR], 2.084; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.053–4.125; P = 0.035), submucosal invasion (OR, 2.162; 95% CI: 1.018–4.595; P = 0.045), undifferentiated type (OR, 2.044; 95% CI: 1.107–3.772; P = 0.022), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (OR, 7.210; 95% CI: 3.835–13.554; P<0.001) were independent predictive risk factors of LNM in EGC in men. However, only submucosal invasion (OR, 8.772; 95% CI: 2.823–27.259; P<0.001) and LVI (OR, 8.877; 95% CI: 3.861–20.410; P<0.001) were independent predictive risk factors of LNM in EGC in women. Submucosal invasion and LVI were risk factors of LNM in both men and women. However, elevated and undifferentiated types were risk factors in men but not in women. Clinicians should consider these sex-specific differences with regard to individualized management.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for suspected early gastric cancer: absolute versus expanded criteria in a large Western cohort (with video)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an effective, minimally invasive, surgery-sparing technique for the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC). It is not well established whether EGC within the Japanese expanded criteria can be safely and effectively treated using ESD in the West. We describe the outcomes of ESD for endoscopically suspected, biopsy specimen-confirmed EGC and its adenomatous precursor lesions (pEGC) using the Vienna classification of dysplasia in a Western cohort.

METHODS

Prospective data were collected on all pEGCs undergoing ESD at a single expert endoscopy center. Outcomes were compared among pEGC, satisfying the Japanese absolute and expanded criteria, those outside criteria, and those specimens that contained low-grade dysplasia (LGD) only. Specialist GI pathologists reviewed and classified all ESD specimens. Patients were followed up at 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

Over 71 months, 135 pEGCs in 121 patients (mean age, 72.0 years; 61.2% men) underwent ESD. Median pEGC size was 20 mm (interquartile range, 15-30), and 62 (45.9%) satisfied the expanded clinical criteria. Perforation occurred in 1.5% and postprocedural bleeding in 5.2%. Forty-two pEGCs (31.1%) contained LGD only. Rates of en bloc and R0 resection were 94.8% and 86.7%, respectively. One hundred seven pEGCs (79.2%) met the absolute or expanded criteria for endoscopic cure. Two pEGCs recurred during follow-up. Ten of 26 patients with pEGC (38.5%) outside criteria for cure underwent surgery after ESD with residual tumor detected in 3 specimens. Fifteen patients with outside criteria for pEGCs did not undergo surgery because of frailty or their expressed wish. Eleven of 15 patients have so far undergone first surveillance with 1 of 11 experiencing endoscopic and histologic recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

ESD is a safe and effective treatment for pEGCs in a Western context. Patients who either decline or are too frail for surgery, with outside criteria resections, may benefit from ESD for local disease control. Large Western studies of ESD for pEGCs are required to define long-term patient outcomes and surveillance guidelines, particularly where pathology shows LGD or high-grade dysplasia only. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02306707.).

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection and Surgery for Early Gastric Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an endoscopic alternative to surgical resection of early gastric cancer (EGC). Besides offering both diagnostic and therapeutic capability, it has the benefits of reducing post-operative complications and provides fast recovery and better quality of life compared to surgical resection of neoplastic lesions. However, due to limitations of the procedure, its long-term outcomes are rather controversial.

METHODS

This study has been carried out to investigate the long-term outcomes of ESD which includes the overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence rate. The following databases were used to search for articles published until February 2018: Medline, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO.

RESULTS

A total of 13 eligible studies covering 4986 patients were selected for a meta-analysis based on specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The difference of OS and disease-specific survival (DSS) between ESD and surgical treatment was not statistically significant (RR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.68-1.19, p = 0.46; RR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.15-1.03, p = 0.06, respectively). However, DFS in the ESD group was much lower than that in the surgery group (RR = 3.40, 95% CI = 2.39-4.84, p < 0.001). In terms of the treatment after recurrence, the proportion of patients who could receive radical treatment was significantly higher in the ESD than that in the gastrectomy (OR = 5.27, 95% CI = 2.35-11.79, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis showed that ESD might be an alternative treatment option to surgery for patients with EGC in Asian countries. But a close surveillance program after ESD is of necessity, considering the higher possibility of tumor recurrence after ESD.

Proton pump inhibitor: The dual role in gastric cancer

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most frequently used medications for upper gastrointestinal diseases. However, a number of physicians have raised concern about the serious side effects of long-term use of PPIs, including the development of gastric cancer. Recent epidemiological studies have reported a significant association between long-term PPI intake and the risk of gastric cancer, even after successful Helicobacter pylori eradication. However, the effects of PPIs on the development of pre-malignant conditions such as atrophic gastritis or intestinal metaplasia are not fully known, suggesting the need for comprehensive and confirmative studies are needed in the future. Meanwhile, several experimental studies have demonstrated the effects of PPIs in reducing chemoresistance in gastric cancer cells by modulating the acidic microenvironment, cancer stemness and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. The inhibitory effects of PPIs on STAT3 activity may overcome drug resistance and enhance the efficacy of conventional or targeted chemotherapeutic agents. Taken together, PPIs may “play dual role” in gastric carcinogenesis and treatment of gastric cancer.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection versus surgery in early gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and gastrectomy with lymph node dissection are considered acceptable treatment modalities for early gastric cancer (EGC). In the last decade, ESD has become more favorable than surgery as it offers faster recovery, lower costs, and a superior quality of life when compared to gastrectomy. The aim of this study is to compare the long-term outcome of ESD versus surgery in EGC. We performed a systematic and comprehensive search of major reference databases (Medline, Embase, CINHAL) for all studies that compared the outcome of EGC for patients underwent ESD or surgery in the same cohort. A systematic review was conducted through November 2017, using pooled analysis to calculate 5-year overall survival (OS) rate, disease-specific survival (DSS) rate, disease-free survival (DFS) rate, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate of ESD versus gastrectomy. Five-year OS and DSS were similar between ESD and gastrectomy groups 96 versus 96% and 99.4 versus 99.2%, respectively. Likewise, DFS was similar in both groups 95.9 versus 98.5% odds ratio 1.86 (0.57-6.0) P=0.3. However, ESD had a lower RFS compared to surgery 92.4 versus 98.3% odds ratio 0.17 (0.1-4.9) P=0.001. Overall, there was a higher recurrence rate in patients who underwent ESD compared to surgery [40/2943 (1.4%) vs. 12/3116 (0.4) risk ratio (RR) 2.5 (1.3-4.8) P=0.005]. Moreover, synchronous and metachronous cancers were more prevalent in the ESD group compared to the surgery group [1.5 vs. 0.1% RR 5.7 (1.5-21.9) P=0.01] [16/1082 (1.5%) vs. 1/1485 (0.1%) RR 10.1 (5.9-17.1) P=0.0001]. Five-year OS, DSS and DFS were similar between ESD and surgery groups. However, recurrent, synchronous and metachronous cancers were more prevalent in patients treated by ESD compared to patients treated by surgery, resulting in a lower RFS. Adequate surveillance with upper endoscopy is crucial after ESD to detect early recurrence and metachronous lesions.

Comparison of endoscopic submucosal dissection with surgical gastrectomy for early gastric cancer: An updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There are several surgical options for treating early gastric cancers (EGCs), such as endoscopic resection, laparoscopic or open gastrectomy with D1 or D2 lymphadenectomy. Endoscopic resection for EGC with low risk of lymph node metastasis has been widely accepted as a therapeutic alternative. The role of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in treating EGC is not well established, especially when compared with resection surgery cases in a long-term follow-up scope.

AIM

To compare the safety and efficacy of the short- and long-term outcomes between ESD and resection surgery.

METHODS

We searched the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from January 1990 to June 2018, enrolling studies reporting short- or long-term outcomes of ESD in comparison with resection surgery for EGC. The quality of the studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Stata software (version 12.0) was used for the analysis. Pooling analysis was conducted using either fixed- or random-effects models depending on heterogeneity across studies.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies comprising 5112 patients were eligible for analysis (2402 for EGC and 2710 for radical surgery). Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the ESD approach showed advantages through decreased operation time [weighted mean difference (WMD): -140.02 min, 95%CI: -254.23 to -34.82 min, P = 0.009], shorter hospital stay (WMD: -5.41 d, 95% CI: -5.93 to -4.89 d, P < 0.001), and lower postoperative complication rate [Odds ratio (OR) = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.28-0.55, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, EGC patients who underwent ESD had higher recurrence rate (OR = 9.24, 95%CI: 5.94-14.36, P < 0.001) than resection surgery patients. However, the long-term survival including overall survival [Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.26-1.00, P = 0.05] and event-free survival (HR = 1.59, 95%CI: 0.66-9.81, P = 0.300) showed no significant differences between these two groups.

CONCLUSION

In the treatment of EGC, ESD was safe and feasible in comparison with resection surgery, with advantages in several surgical and post-operative recovery parameters. Although the recurrence rate was higher in ESD group, the long-term survival was still comparable in these two groups, suggesting ESD could be recommended as standard treatment for EGC with indications.

Exploring the possibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection for clinical submucosal invasive early gastric cancers

BACKGROUND

The current standard treatment modality for clinical submucosal invasive (cT1b) early gastric cancer (EGC) is surgery. However, there are discrepancies in T staging between pre- and post-operative findings, and in cases of overestimation, patients may lose the opportunity to preserve the stomach. The aim of this study was to analyze surgical outcomes of cT1b EGC and determine the pre-treatment factors favoring ESD.

METHODS

Patients who underwent gastrectomy for cT1b EGC with a tumor size of 30 mm or less in diameter and differentiated-type histology were retrospectively reviewed from January 2010 to December 2014. According to the final surgical pathologic results, two groups were classified: patients whose pathologic results qualified for current ESD indication (ESD-qualified group, n = 203) and patients whose pathologic results made them ineligible for ESD (ESD-disqualified group, n = 261). The preoperative clinical characteristics were compared.

RESULTS

Forty-three percent of the patients (203/464) who underwent gastrectomy for cT1b EGC qualified for ESD; their endoscopic lesion tended to be smaller than 20 mm in size and located in the distal part of stomach. In addition, the ESD-qualified group showed a significantly higher proportion of well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma on endoscopic biopsy and of the flat/depressed type in the endoscopic evaluation.

CONCLUSION

Forty-three percent of the patients with cT1b EGC who underwent gastrectomy had a chance to preserve their stomach by ESD. Therefore, pre-treatment factors such as endoscopic lesion size, location, histology, and gross type should be considered for treatment modality selection for cT1b EGC.

A Comparison by Meta-Analysis of Papillary Early Gastric Carcinoma to Its Tubular Counterpart for the Risk of Lymph Node Metastasis and Submucosal Invasion

BACKGROUND AND AIM

At present, the decision to perform endoscopic resection for treating either papillary early gastric cancer (EGC) or tubular EGC is made according to identical criteria. However, there is controversy in the literature whether the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and submucosal invasion for both disease modalities is equal, and this prompts investigation to clarify this issue.

METHODS

The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies published up to January 2017. Data were extracted, and the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using a random-effects or a fixed-effects model, according to heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies were included in this analysis. Papillary EGC had a significantly higher LNM risk (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.38-2.82) and submucosal invasion risk (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.08-1.93), compared with tubular EGC. Stratified by geographic location, a significantly increased risk of LNM (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.57-3.30) and submucosal invasion (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.13-2.04) associated with papillary EGC was found in Asian studies. In addition, papillary EGC exhibited significantly more frequent elevated/flat growth patterns (OR, 7.54, 95% CI, 4.76-11.96).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identifies an increased risk for submucosal invasion and LNM in papillary EGC compared with tubular EGC, indicating that papillary EGC requires more careful clinical management compared with tubular EGC.

Effect of ilaprazole on the healing of endoscopic submucosal dissection-induced gastric ulcer: randomized-controlled, multicenter study

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment regimen or the duration of treatment for an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)-induced gastric ulcer has not been established. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of novel proton-pump inhibitor, ilaprazole, for the treatment of ESD-induced gastric ulcer.

METHODS

This was a prospective, open-label, randomized multicenter study. Between June 2015 and March 2018, a total of 176 patients (178 lesions) who underwent ESD for a gastric neoplasm were randomly allocated to receive the oral proton-pump inhibitor ilaprazole 20 mg or rabeprazole 20 mg daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the ulcer healing rate at 4 and 8 weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 155 (157 lesions) and 154 patients (156 lesions) were included in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) and per-protocol analyses, respectively. There was no significant difference in the ulcer healing rate (ilaprazole vs. rabeprazole, 97.4% vs. 97.0 p = 0.78 at 4 weeks, 100% vs. 100%, p = 0.95 at 8 weeks in the mITT analysis) or stage of ulcer (scar stage, 25.6% vs. 17.7%, p = 0.25 at 4 weeks, 92.3% vs. 88.6%, p = 0.59 at 8 weeks in the mITT analysis) between the treatment groups. The quality of ulcer healing was not significantly different between the two groups. No independent predictive factor for higher-quality ulcer healing was found in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

According to this trial, ilaprazole and rabeprazole showed no significant difference in the healing of artificial gastric ulcers. Most of the ulcers achieved complete healing within 4-8 weeks.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrial.gov NCT02638584.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection versus endoscopic mucosal resection for type 0-II superficial gastric lesions larger than 20 mm

Background:

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are increasingly used for the treatment of superficial gastrointestinal neoplasia. However, the limits and the indications for each technique are still debated. Our retrospective study aimed to compare these techniques in patients with gastric flat lesions larger than 20 mm without the non-lifting sign.

Methods:

Between January 2013 and July 2016, a total of 36 patients with early gastric flat lesions larger than 20 mm and without the non-lifting sign were resected by ESD and were followed up by endoscopy. As a control group, 40 EMR cases from our database were matched. En bloc and curative resection were compared between the two groups according to histological assessment, tumor size, recurrence, complication rate, and procedure time. A Kaplan-Meier comparison was performed for both groups with a log-rank test to compare the survival curves; the chi-square test was employed for other parameters.

Results:

En bloc resection rate and curative resection rate were significantly higher in the ESD group than in the EMR group. Procedure time was significantly longer in the ESD group. No significant differences were found in the recurrence and complication rates, although the former were higher in the EMR group and the latter in the ESD group. Survival curves were similar for both groups.

Conclusions:

Our retrospective analysis seems to confirm a clear advantage for ESD over EMR in removing early superficial gastric neoplasm. Although ESD has expanded the endoscopic resectability of endoscopic gastric lesions, EMR may still be considered one of the therapeutic options for flat gastric lesions without the non-lifting sign.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in the West: Current status and future directions

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was first conceptually described almost 30 years ago in Japan and is now widely practiced throughout East Asia. ESD expands the boundaries of endoscopic resection (ER) by allowing en bloc resection of large early neoplastic lesions within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This offers advantages over other ER techniques by facilitating definitive histological staging and curative treatment of early cancer in selected cases. Indeed, the experience of ESD in Eastern countries is significant, and excellent outcomes from high-volume centers are reported. The potential benefits of ESD are recognized by Western endoscopists, but its adoption has been limited. A number of factors contribute to this, including epidemiological differences in GIT neoplasia between Western and Eastern populations and limitations in training opportunities. In this review, we discuss the role of ESD, its current status and the future in Western endoscopic practice.

The Comparison between Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection and Surgery in Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

AIMS

There are two treatment modalities for early gastric cancer (EGC)-surgery and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of ESD with surgery.

METHOD

The article was performed by searching PubMed databases. Data were extracted using predefined form and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated and P value.

RESULTS

13 studies were identified. The incidence of perforation in two groups was different [OR = 6.18 (95% CI: 1.37-27.98), P = 0.02]. The prevalences of synchronous and metachronous cancer in the ESD group were higher than those in the surgery group [OR = 8.52 (95% CI: 1.99-36.56), P = 0.004 and OR = 7.15 (95% CI: 2.95-17.32), P < 0.0001]. The recurrence and complete resection rates were different [OR = 6.93 (95% CI: 2.83-16.96), P < 0.0001 and OR = 0.32 (95% CI: 0.20-0.52), P < 0.00001]. Compared with the surgery group, the hospital stay was shorter [IV = -7.15 (95% CI: -9.08-5.22), P < 0.00001], the adverse event rate was lower, and the quality of life (QOL) was better in the ESD group. The difference of bleeding was not found.

CONCLUSION

ESD appears to be preferable for EGC, due to a lower rate of adverse events, shorter hospital stay, cheaper cost, and higher QOL.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for papillary adenocarcinoma of the stomach: is it really safe?

BACKGROUND

Papillary adenocarcinoma of the stomach has been treated according to the same endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) indication criteria as other differentiated-type adenocarcinomas. We aimed to compare lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) with papillary adenocarcinoma (EGC-P) with that in patients with EGC with nonpapillary adenocarcinoma (EGC-NP) and to consider the potential limitation of current ESD indication criteria in the treatment of EGC-P.

METHODS

In total, 1583 patients who underwent gastrectomy for EGC from 2005 to 2014 were included. Clinicopathologic characteristics of 56 patients with EGC-P were compared with those of 1527 patients with EGC-NP. The safety of ESD was evaluated, by application of current ESD indication criteria to EGC-P.

RESULTS

The frequency of submucosal invasion was significantly higher in EGC-P than in both EGC-NP with differentiated-type histologic appearance and EGC-NP with undifferentiated-type histologic appearance (71.4% vs 50.8% and 37.6%, respectively). In addition, the frequency of LNM in EGC-P was 17.9%, higher than that in both EGC-NP with differentiated-type histologic appearance and EGC-NP with undifferentiated-type histologic appearance (9.7% and 11.1%, respectively). When the current ESD indication criteria were applied to the 56 patients with EGC-P, 17 patients met the current indications. Of these patients, two (11.8%) had LNM and three (17.6%) had lymphovascular invasion (LVI). When LNM and LVI were combined, one of seven patients (16.7%) meeting the absolute ESD indications and three of ten patients (30.0%) meeting the expanded ESD indications would not be cured after ESD.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ESD should be more carefully applied in patients with EGC-P meeting the ESD indication criteria, especially the expanded indication criteria, after pretreatment workup compared with other differentiated-type adenocarcinomas, owing to the higher frequencies of submucosal invasion, LNM, and LVI in EGC-P.

Predictive risk factors associated with synchronous multiple early gastric cancer

The aim of this study was to elucidate the predictive risk factors of synchronous multiple early gastric cancer regardless of the treatment modality.Patients who underwent early gastric cancer treatment between July 2005 and June 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 1529 patients who were treated for early gastric cancer were included. We analyzed the patient's data to find predictive factors of synchronous multiple early gastric cancer compared to solitary early gastric cancer. Further analysis was performed to verify the difference between endoscopic and surgical treatment groups.Among the 1529 patients, synchronous multiple early gastric cancer was diagnosed in 68 (4.4%) patients. Significant differences in sex (P = .004), gross appearance (P = .038), depth of invasion (P = .007), and lymphovascular invasion (P = .039) were found between patients with solitary early gastric cancer and synchronous multiple early gastric cancer by univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, male sex (odds ratio, 2.475; P = .011) and submucosal invasion (odds ratio, 1.850; P = .033) were independent predictive risk factors of synchronous multiple early gastric cancer. In addition, in multivariate analysis, significant differences in age, tumor size, longitudinal location, depth of invasion, and histology were found between patients groups depending on the mode of treatment.Male sex and submucosal invasion were predictive risk factors of synchronous multiple early gastric cancer. Patients with these factors should undergo more meticulous endoscopic surveillance.