Early Gastric Cancer

Background Endoscopic resection is an adequate treatment for subgroups of patients with early gastric cancer. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) represents a recent advance and leads to good results when adequately indicated. There is great experience with this technique in Japan and it is gaining acceptance among Western endoscopists. We present the first gastric ESD series performed in Brazil. Methods Patients with well-differentiated adenocarcinomas macroscopically classified as early cancer, less than 30 mm with no ulcer or scar, were included. ESD was performed with an insulated-tip knife and electrosurgical unit with endocut mode. Clinicopathological aspects and morbidity were evaluated. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and informed consent was obtained from all participant subjects. Results From October 2005 to July 2007, 160 patients received surgical treatment for gastric cancer; 44 patients (27.5%) had early gastric cancer. In this latter group, 15 procedures (ESD) were performed in 12 patients. The mean size of the lesions was 16.8 mm. Almost half of the lesions were located in the proximal third of the stomach and the mean elapsed time for the procedure was 140 min. In 80% of the cases resection was en bloc and 80% of the resections were considered curative. We had three perforations, which were managed clinically, and no bleeding. Conclusion When adequately indicated, ESD is a safe and feasible technique.

Atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and epithelial
dysplasia of the stomach are common and
are associated with an increased risk for gastric
cancer. In the absence of guidelines, there is wide
disparity in the management of patients with
these premalignant conditions. The European Society
of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE), the
European Helicobacter Study Group (EHSG), the
European Society of Pathology (ESP) and the Sociedade
Portuguesa de Endoscopia Digestiva (SPED)
have therefore combined efforts to develop evidence-
based guidelines on the management of
patients with precancerous conditions and lesions
of the stomach (termed MAPS). A multidisciplinary
group of 63 experts from 24 countries
developed these recommendations by means of
repeat online voting and a meeting in June 2011
in Porto, Portugal. The recommendations emphasize
the increased cancer risk in patients with
gastric atrophy and metaplasia, and the need for
adequate staging in the case of high grade dysplasia,
and they focus on treatment and surveillance
indications and methods.

Introduction Intraluminal surgery began with the advent of endoscopy. Endoscopic endoluminal surgery has limitations; and its failure results in conventional open or laparoscopic interventions with increased morbidity. Laparoscopy-assisted intraluminal surgery is a novel alternative to open or laparoscopic surgery for a failed endoscopic endoluminal technique, minimizing the associated complications. Endoscopic resection of early gastric and duodenal cancers is restricted by the limited view of the endoscope, insufficient number of instrument channels, and inability to have adequate margins of resection without risking perforation. These cancers potentially can be treated by laparoscopy-assisted intraluminal surgery without resorting to major gastric or duodenal resection. This procedure is relatively easy to perform and oncologically effective. We present the experience of the Texas Endosurgery Institute (TEI) in treating early gastric and duodenal cancers, including large malignant polyps and carcinoid tumors, with laparoscopy-assisted endoluminal surgery. Materials and methods The data for all patients with early gastric and duodenal cancers who underwent laparoscopy-assisted endoluminal surgery at TEI between 1996 and 2007 were prospectively recorded. All of the patients had been referred by the endoscopist as noncandidates for endoscopic resection. We prospectively collected data on preoperative diagnosis, operating time, estimated blood loss, postoperative complications, histopathology, and recurrence rate. All patients underwent endoluminal port placement under direct visualization after a pneumoperitoneum was established. Operations were performed in conjunction with upper endoscopy for assistance with port placement under endoluminal visualization, insufflation, and specimen retrieval. After the intraluminal portion of the operation was completed, the endoluminal port sites were closed with laparoscopic intracorporeal suturing. Results From 1996 to 2007, a total of 12 patients underwent laparoscopic endoluminal surgery. All cases were completed successfully, including 5 resections of early gastric cancer (stage I), 3 wedge resections of carcinoid tumor, 2 resections of duodenal adenocarcinoma, and 2 resections of a malignant polyp at the gastroesophagic junction; all the cases were completed with disease-free margins. No recurrence of the original pathology have been reported, and the complications were minimal. Conclusion Laparoscopic intraluminal surgery for early gastric and duodenal cancer is a feasible alternative to open conventional therapies; and it is associated with a lower incidence of incisional hernia formation and a lower infection rate.

In the West, neither acute nor long-term results of endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) have been reported in large studies. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of ER in patients with EGC in a long-term follow-up (FU). From May 1995 to October 2004, 179 patients were referred to our department for endoscopic therapy (ET) of gastric cancer (GC). Of these, 43 patients had intramucosal GC with a diameter of up to 30 mm and underwent ER with curative intent. All patients underwent a strict FU protocol at regular intervals. Of the 43 patients, 42 fulfilled our low-risk criteria for ET of EGC: gross tumor type I/II, intramucosal GC, diameter up to 30 mm, tumor differentiation G1/G2, and no infiltration into lymph vessels/veins. Two patients were not available for FU (remission status not evaluated). In another patient, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma was detected simultaneously, and he was referred for surgery...

Gastric cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and it is often diagnosed in an advanced stage. In countries where screening endoscopy is performed widely, early detection is possible. In fact, early gastric cancer incidence is increas-ing during the last years worldwide and screening could be a major factor in such increase. In the past, the standard treatment of gastric cancer was surgical resection; however, the endoscopic treatment has increased due to advances in the instruments available and clinician experience. In fact, endoscopic resection has become one of the greatest ad-vances in EGC treatment. It is the standard treatment in most of the cases because early gastric cancer is associated with a low rate of lymph node metastasis and a high survival rate. Endoscopic Mucosal Resection and more recently Endo-scopic Submucosal Dissection are the two main developed procedures. Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection achieves a higher rate of en-bloc resection, complete resection, cu...

Human colorectal cancer tissue and matched uninvolved mucosa from 21 patients were examined by radioligand displacement for the presence of binding sites for bombesin-like peptides. Five cancers, but no uninvolved mucosa, expressed high-affinity, low-capacity bombesin ...

We describe two cases of gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy after CABG with the use of RGEA. To avoid the potentially fatal coronary event during gastrectomy, safe handling of the conduit including preparations for injuries and prevention of vessel spasm was performed ...

From 1975 to 1985, 142 patients with early gastric cancer were operated on in our service; this group comprised 14 per cent of all patients with gastric cancer operated on during this period. Epigastric pain was the most frequent symptom (75·3 per cent). The lesions were located in the lower third in 45·8 per cent, in the middle third in 31·7 per cent, in the upper third in 20·4 per cent and in the gastric stump in 2·1 per cent. Subtotal gastrectomy was performed in 116 patients and operative mortality was limited to two patients. Macroscopically 86·6 per cent of cases were included in type III, IIc and IIc–III. The five year survival rate, excluding the operative mortality, was 93·1 per cent. Tumours located in the lower third of the stomach, limited to the mucosa and of ulcerating type, had the best prognosis.

Background: Although early gastric cancer (T1, NX) in Japan has been reported to have an excellent prognosis, the experience with this cancer in the United States is limited. The treatment of these tumors in Japan is becoming less aggressive as “good prognostic factors” are increasingly recognized. Our objective was to identify predictors of nodal disease and survival in a large cohort of Western patients with T1 tumors. Methods: A retrospective review of our prospective data base from July 1985 to March 1998 revealed 165 patients undergoing surgical resection for T1 gastric tumors. Clinicopathological factors analyzed and compared included presence of positive nodes, tumor size (4.5 vs.,4.5 cm), depth (mucosal vs. submucosal), grade (poor vs. moderate and well), and tumor site (proximal vs. distal), presence of venous or perineural invasion, and Lauren’s classification. Factors predicting lymph node involvement and disease-specific survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Median follow-up time was 36 months. The actuarial 5-year survival was 88%. Thirteen patients (8%) died of disease. Lymph node involvement was present in 31 tumors (19%), with a 5-year survival of 91% with negative nodes vs. 78% with positive nodes. On univariate and multivariate analysis, the presence of tumor submucosal invasion (P,.05), venous invasion (P 5.02), and size of 4.5 cm and larger (P 5.02) was significantly associated with an increased risk for nodal positivity. On univariate analysis of survival, node-positive tumors (P 5.02) and tumors 4.5 cm and larger (P 5.008) were significantly associated with decreased survival. On multivariate analysis, only node-positive tumors were significantly (P 5.01) associated with decreased survival. Those tumors that were limited to the mucosa and less than 4.5 cm in size (n = 47) had a 4% rate of positive nodes. In contrast, those tumors that were 4.5 cm and larger and had penetrated into the submucosa (n = 16) had a 56% chance of positive nodes. Conclusions: Early gastric carcinoma in North America has an excellent prognosis, similar to that in Japan. Tumors that are limited to the mucosa and smaller than 4.5 cm could be considered for limited resection without lymphadenectomy.

From 1975 to 1985, 142 patients with early gastric cancer were operated on in our service; this group comprised 14 per cent of all patients with gastric cancer operated on during this period. Epigastric pain was the most frequent symptom (75·3 per cent). The lesions were located in the lower third in 45·8 per cent, in the middle third in 31·7 per cent, in the upper third in 20·4 per cent and in the gastric stump in 2·1 per cent. Subtotal gastrectomy was performed in 116 patients and operative mortality was limited to two patients. Macroscopically 86·6 per cent of cases were included in type III, IIc and IIc–III. The five year survival rate, excluding the operative mortality, was 93·1 per cent. Tumours located in the lower third of the stomach, limited to the mucosa and of ulcerating type, had the best prognosis.

The proximal gastrectomy group (n = 89) had smaller tumors, shorter resection margins, and smaller numbers of retrieved lymph nodes than the total gastrectomy group (n = 334). N stages and 5-year survival rates were similar after total and proximal gastrectomy. Postoperative ...

Germ-line truncating mutations in the E-cadherin (CDH1) gene have been found in families with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. These families are characterized by a highly penetrant susceptibility to diffuse gastric cancer with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, predominantly in young persons. We describe genetic screening, surgical management, and pathological findings in young persons with truncating mutations in CDH1 from two unrelated families with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. Mutation-specific predictive genetic testing was performed by polymerase-chain-reaction amplification, followed by restriction-enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing in Family 1 and by heteroduplex analysis in Family 2. A total gastrectomy was performed prophylactically in five carriers of mutations who were between 22 and 40 years old. In each case, the entire mucosa of the stomach was extensively sampled for microscopical analysis. Superficial infiltrates of malignant signet-ring cells were identified in the surgical samples from all five persons who underwent gastrectomy. These early diffuse gastric cancers were multifocal in three of the five cases, and in one person infiltrates of malignant signet-ring cells were present in 65 of the 140 tissue blocks analyzed, representing in aggregate less than 2 percent of the gastric mucosa. We recommend genetic counseling and consideration of prophylactic gastrectomy in young, asymptomatic carriers of germ-line truncating CDH1 mutations who belong to families with highly penetrant hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.

To investigate the role of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer and determine surgical, clinical, and oncological outcomes. This is a propensity score-matched case-control study, comparing three treatment arms: robotic gastrectomy (RG), laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG), open gastrectomy (OG). Data collection started after sharing a specific study protocol. Data were recorded through a tailored and protected web-based system. Primary outcomes: harvested lymph nodes, estimated blood loss, hospital stay, complications rate. Among the secondary outcomes, there are: operative time, R0 resections, POD of mobilization, POD of starting liquid diet and soft solid diet. The analysis includes the evaluation of type and grade of postoperative complications. Detailed information of anastomotic leakages is also provided. The present analysis was carried out of 1026 gastrectomies. To guarantee homogenous distribution of cases, patients in the RG, LG and OG groups were 1:1:2 matched using a p...

Immunohistochemical detection of p53 was performed in archival material of 129 early gastric cancers. Positive staining was detected in 22.5% (29/129) of the cases. No significant association could be established with any clinicopathological criteria but a trend of a higher rate of p53 detection was observed among large tumors (> 6 cm) and in cases with lymph node involvement. Prognosis was significantly worse for patients with p53-positive staining tumors. The 5-year survival rate was 92.1% for patients with p53-negative tumors and 71.2% for those with positive malignancies (p = 0.001). p53 detection and lymph node involvement emerged as independent prognostic factors in a Cox model including other clinicopathological criteria. Immunochemical detection of p53 may become an important aid in the preoperative evaluation of patients with early gastric cancer.

Mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene have been associated with abnormalities in cell cycle regulation, DNA repair and synthesis, apoptosis, and it has been implicated in the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of p53 gene mutation and its possible prognostic implications in early gastric cancer. In a retrospective study,