Early gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection:Not to be ignored!

This editorial comments on the article“Efficacy of multi-slice spiral computed tomography in evaluating gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection”.We focus on the importance of paying more attention to postendoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)gastric cancer recurrence in patients with early gastric cancer(EGC)and how to manage it effectively.ESD has been a wellknown treatment and the mainstay for EGC,with the advantages of less invasion and fewer complications when compared with traditional surgical procedures.Despite a lower local recurrence rate after ESD,the problem of postoperative recurrence in patients with EGC has become increasingly non-ignorable with the global popularization of ESD technology and the increasing number of post-ESD patients.

Present situation of minimally invasive surgical treatment for early gastric cancer

Minimally invasive surgery is a kind of surgical operation,which is performed by using professional surgical instruments and equipment to inactivate,resect,repair or reconstruct the pathological changes,deformities and wounds in human body through micro-trauma or micro-approach,in order to achieve the goal of treatment,its surgical effect is equivalent to the traditional open surgery,while avoiding the morbidity of conventional surgical wounds.In addition,it also has the advantages of less trauma,less blood loss during operation,less psychological burden and quick recovery on patients,and these minimally invasive techniques provide unique value for the examination and treatment of gastric cancer patients.Surgical minimally invasive surgical techniques have developed rapidly and offer numerous options for the treatment of early gastric cancer(EGC):endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR),underwater EMR(UEMR),endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),endoscopic full-thickness resection(EFTR),endoscopic submu-cosal excavation(ESE),submucosal tunnel endoscopic resection,laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery(LECS);Among them,EMR,EFTR and LECS technologies have a wide range of applications and different modific-ations have been derived from their respective surgical operations,such as band-assisted EMR(BA-EMR),conven-tional EMR(CEMR),over-the-scope clip-assisted EFTR,no-touch EFTR,the inverted LECS,closed LECS,and so on.These new and improved minimally invasive surgeries are more precise,specific and effective in treating different types of EGC.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in elderly patients

BACKGROUND With advancements in the development of endoscopic technologies,the endo-scopic submucosal dissection(ESD)has been one of the gold-standard therapies for early gastric cancer.AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety ESD in the treatment of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in the elderly patients.METHODS Seventy-eight elderly patients with early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University were se-lected and classified into two groups according to the different surgical therapies they received between January 2021 and June 2022.Among them,39 patients treated with ESD were included in an experimental group,and 39 patients treated with endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)were included in a control group.We compared the basic intraoperative conditions,postoperative short-term recovery,long-term recovery effects and functional status of gastric mucosa between the two groups;the basic intraoperative conditions included lesion resection,intra-operative bleeding and operation time;the postoperative short-term recovery assessment indexes were length of hospital stay and incidence of surgical complic-ations;and the long-term recovery assessment indexes were the recurrence rate at 1 year postoperatively and the survival situation at 1 year and 3 years postoper-atively;and we compared the preoperative and predischarge serum pepsinogen I(PG I)and PG II levels and PG I/PG II ratio in the two groups before surgery and discharge.RESULTS The curative resection rate and the rate of en bloc resection were higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The intraoperative bleeding volume was higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The operation time was longer in the experimental group than that in the control group,and the rate for base residual focus was lower in the experimental group than that of the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).The length of hospital stay was longer in the experi-mental group than in the control group,and the incidence of surgical complications,1-year postoperative recu-rrence rate and 3-year postoperative survival rate were lower in the experimental group than in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).However,the difference in the 1-year postoperative survival rate was not statistically significant between the two groups(P>0.05).Before discharge,PG I and PG I/PG II ratio were elevated in both groups compared with the preoperative period,and the above indexes were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(both P<0.05).Moreover,before discharge,PG II level was lower in both groups compared with the preoperative period,and the level was lower in the experimental group than in the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with EMR,ESD surgery is more thorough.It reduces the rate of base residual focus,recurrence rate,surgical complications,and promotes the recovery of gastric cells and glandular function.It is safe and suitable for clinical application.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for undifferentiated type early gastric cancer over 2 cm with R0 resection

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for over 2 cm in size undifferentiated type(UD type)early gastric cancer(EGC)confined to the mucosa is not only challenging,but also long-term outcomes are not well known.AIM To evaluate the long-term outcomes of ESD done for UD type EGCs confined to the mucosa over 2 cm in size and compare the results with those where the lesions were less than 2 cm.METHODS 143 patients with UD type EGC confirmed on histology after ESD at a tertiary hospital were reviewed.Cases with synchronous and metachronous lesions and a case with emergency surgery after ESD were excluded.A total of 137 cases were enrolled.79 cases who underwent R0 resection were divided into 2 cm or less(group A)and over 2 cm(group B)in size.RESULTS Among 79 patients who underwent R0 resection,the number in group A and B were 51 and 28,respectively.The mean follow-up period(SD)was 79.71±45.42 months.There was a local recurrence in group A(1/51,2%)and group B(1/28,3.6%)respectively.This patient in group A underwent surgery while the patient in group B underwent repeated ESD with no further recurrences in both patients.There was no regional lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,and deaths in both groups.With R0 resection strategy for ESD on lesions over 2 cm,20.4%(28/137)of patients were able to avoid surgery compared with expanded indication.CONCLUSION If R0 resection is achieved by ESD,UD type EGCs over 2 cm also showed good and similar clinical outcomes as compared to lesions less than 2 cm when followed for over 5 years.With R0 resection strategy,several patients can avoid surgery.

Editorial article to:Animal experimental study on magnetic anchor technique-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection of early gastric cancer

In this editorial we comment on the article published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2023;15(11):634-680.Gastric cancer(GC)remains the fifth most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.The overall prevalence of GC has declined,although that of proximal GC has increased over time.Thus,a significant proportion of GC cases and deaths can be avoided if preventive interventions are taken.Early GC(EGC)is defined as GC confined to the mucosa or submucosa.Endoscopic resection is considered the most appropriate treatment for precancerous gastrointestinal lesions improving patient quality of life,with reduced rates of complications,shorter hospitalization period,and lower costs when compared to surgical resection.Endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)and endoscopic sub-mucosal dissection(ESD)are representative endoscopic treatments for EGC and precancerous gastric lesions.Standard EMR implies injection of a saline solution into the sub-mucosal space,followed by excision of the lesion using a snare.Complete resection rates vary depending on the size and severity of the lesion.When using conventional EMR methods for lesions less than 1 cm in size,the complete resection rate is approximately 60%,whereas for lesions larger than 2 cm,the complete resection rate is low(20%-30%).ESD can be used to remove tumors exceeding 2 cm in diameter and lesions associated with ulcers or submucosal fibrosis.Compared with EMR,ESD has higher en bloc resection rates(90.2%vs 51.7%),higher complete resection rates(82.1 vs 42.2%),and lower recurrence rates(0.65%vs 6.05%).Thus,innovative techniques have been introduced.

Effect of Sequential Early Enteral Nutrition on Postoperative Rehabilitation and Complications in Gastric Cancer Patients

Objective:To analyze the effect of sequential early enteral nutrition in patients with gastric cancer after surgery.Methods:A total of 139 gastric cancer patients,treated between October 2021 and October 2023,were randomly selected and divided into two groups:Group A(68 cases,receiving early enteral nutrition)and Group B(71 cases,receiving sequential early enteral nutrition),using computer randomization.The effects of the interventions on both groups were compared.Results:Seven days post-operation,the levels of nutritional indicators in Group B were significantly higher than those in Group A(P<0.05).Group B showed significantly better levels of inflammatory factors and immune factors compared to Group A seven days post-operation(P<0.05).The postoperative complication rate in Group B was 4.23%,2 significantly lower than that in Group A,which was 16.18%(χ=5.477,P=0.019).Conclusion:The utilization of sequential early enteral nutrition in gastric cancer patients after surgery demonstrated notable improvements in nutritional status and inflammation markers,along with enhanced immunity,effectively reducing postoperative complications.

A Comprehensive Study on the digestive Endoscopic Technique and Narrow-Band Imaging for Early Gastric Cancer Screening

Objective:To explore the implementation of gastrointestinal endoscopy technology and endoscopic narrow-band imaging(NBI)in the early screening of gastric cancer and to observe and study their application effects.Methods:During the period from March 2023 to August 2023,312 patients who received gastroscopy in the Kunming Guandu District People’s Hospital were selected,and they underwent both conventional gastroscopy and endoscopic NBI,with clinicopathological tissue biopsy serving as the gold standard.The application value for early screening of gastric cancer was observed and analyzed.Results:The scoring data showed that the clarity of gastric mucosal glandular tube structure,microvascular structure clarity,and lesion contour scoring data of conventional gastroscopy were lower than those of the NBI technology(P<0.05).The screening rate of pathological biopsy in 312 patients was 18.59%(58 cases).Conventional gastroscopy showed a screening rate of 11.53%(36 cases),while NBI technology examined a screening rate of 17.63%(55 cases),and the two-by-two comparison of the screening rate data of the three groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value of conventional gastroscopy appeared to be lower than those of NBI technology(P<0.05).Conclusion:In the early screening of gastric cancer,endoscopic NBI technology can be applied to patients.Compared with conventional gastroscopy,it provides a clearer visualization of the structure of the gastric mucosal glandular structure and microvascular structure,with a certain screening rate.Additionally,its sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value are higher,demonstrating outstanding effectiveness.

Novel biomarkers for early detection of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer(GC)remains a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.Less than half of GC cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage due to its lack of early symptoms.GC is a heterogeneous disease associated with a number of genetic and somatic mutations.Early detection and effective monitoring of tumor progression are essential for reducing GC disease burden and mortality.The current widespread use of semi-invasive endoscopic methods and radiologic approaches has increased the number of treatable cancers:However,these approaches are invasive,costly,and time-consuming.Thus,novel molecular noninvasive tests that detect GC alterations seem to be more sensitive and specific compared to the current methods.Recent technological advances have enabled the detection of blood-based biomarkers that could be used as diagnostic indicators and for monitoring postsurgical minimal residual disease.These biomarkers include circulating DNA,RNA,extracellular vesicles,and proteins,and their clinical applications are currently being investigated.The identification of ideal diagnostic markers for GC that have high sensitivity and specificity would improve survival rates and contribute to the advancement of precision medicine.This review provides an overview of current topics regarding the novel,recently developed diagnostic markers for GC.

Characteristics of early gastric tumors with different differentiation and predictors of long-term outcomes after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract,and endosco-pic submucosal dissection(ESD)is the preferred treatment for early-stage gastric cancer.The analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of gastric mucosal tumors with different differentiation degrees and the influencing factors of long-term ESD efficacy may have certain significance for revealing the development of gastric cancer and ESD.AIM To analyze the features of gastric mucosal tumors at different differentiation levels,and to explore the prognostic factors of ESD.METHODS We retrospectively studied 301 lesions in 285 patients at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from 2014 to 2021,according to the latest Japanese guidelines(sixth edition),and divided them into low-grade intrae-pithelial neoplasia(LGIN),high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia(HGIN),and computed tomography at 3,6 and 12 months after ESD.We compared clinicopathologic characteristics,ESD efficacy,and complications with different degrees of differentiation,and analyzed the related factors associated with ESD.RESULTS HGIN and differentiated carcinoma patients were significantly older compared with LGIN patients(P<0.001)and accounted for more 0-IIc(P<0.001),atrophic gastritis was common(P<0.001),and irregular microvascular patterns(IMVPs)and demarcation lines(DLs)were more obvious(P<0.001).There was more infiltration in the undifferentiated carcinoma tissue(P<0.001),more abnormal folds and poorer mucosal peristalsis(P<0.001),and more obvious IMVPs,irregular microsurface patterns and DLs(P<0.05)than in the LGIN and HGIN tissues.The disease-free survival rates at 2,5,and 8 years after ESD were 95.0%,90.1%,and 86.9%,respectively.Undifferen-tiated lesions(HR 5.066),white moss(HR 7.187),incomplete resection(HR 3.658),and multiple primary cancers(HR 2.462)were significantly associated with poor prognosis.CONCLUSION Differentiations of gastric mucosal tumors have different epidemiological and endoscopic characteristics,which are closely related to the safety and efficacy of ESD.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer:It is time to consider the quality of its outcomes

Endoscopic resection,particularly endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),is widely used as a standard treatment modality for early gastric cancer(EGC)when the risk of lymph node metastasis is negligible.Compared with surgical gastrectomy,ESD is a minimally invasive procedure with additional advantages,such as preservation of the entire stomach and maintenance of the patient’s quality of life.However,not all patients achieve curative resection after ESD of EGC.Several patients require surgical gastrectomy after ESD to achieve a curative treatment.Additional surgery after ESD,owing to non-curative resection,places considerable emotional and financial burdens on patients.Recently,as the number of endoscopists performing ESD has increased,the rate of non-curative resection after ESD has increased correspondingly.In order to decrease the non-curative resection rate,as well as determine the ideal rate of non-curative resection after ESD,it is time to consider quality indicators for the outcomes of ESD for EGC.

Associate factors for endoscopic submucosal dissection operation time and postoperative delayed hemorrhage of early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)is a treatment for early gastric cancer with the advantages of small invasion,fewer complications,and a low local recurrence rate.However,there is a high risk of complications such as bleeding and perforation,and the operation time is also longer.ESD operation time is closely related to bleeding and perforation.AIM To investigate the influencing factors associated with ESD operation time and postoperative delayed hemorrhage to provide a reference for early planning,early identification,and prevention of complications.METHODS We conducted a retrospective study based on the clinical data of 520 patients with early gastric cancer in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021.The baseline data,clinical features,and endoscopic and pathological characteristics of patients were collected.The multivariate linear regression model was used to investigate the influencing factors of ESD operation time.Logistic regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the influencing factors of postoperative delayed hemorrhage.RESULTS The multivariate analysis of ESD operation time showed that the maximum lesion diameter could affect 8.815%of ESD operation time when other influencing factors remained unchanged.The operation time increased by 3.766%or 10.247%if the lesion was mixed or concave.The operation time increased by 4.417%if combined with an ulcer or scar.The operation time increased by 3.692%if combined with perforation.If infiltrated into the submucosa,it increased by 2.536%.Multivariate analysis of delayed hemorrhage after ESD showed that the maximum diameter of the lesion,lesion morphology,and ESD operation time were independent influencing factors for delayed hemorrhage after ESD.Patients with lesion≥3.0 cm(OR=3.785,95%CI:1.165-4.277),lesion morphology-concave(OR=10.985,95%CI:2.133-35.381),and ESD operation time≥60 min(OR=2.958,95%CI:1.117-3.526)were prone to delayed hemorrhage after ESD.CONCLUSION If the maximum diameter of the lesion in patients with early gastric cancer is≥3.0 cm,and the shape of the lesion is concave,or accompanied by an ulcer or scar,combined with perforation,and infiltrates into the submucosa,the ESD operation will take a longer time.When the maximum diameter of the lesion is≥3.0 cm,the shape of the lesion is concave in patients and the operation time of ESD takes longer time,the risk of delayed hemorrhage after ESD is higher.

Factors associated with heterochronic gastric cancer development post-endoscopic mucosal dissection in early gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND Endoscopic mucosal resection is an innovative method for treating early gastric cancer and has been widely used in clinical practice.AIM To analyze the factors associated with the development of heterochronic gastric cancer in patients with early gastric cancer who had undergone endoscopic mucosal dissection(EMD).METHODS A cohort of patients with early gastric cancer treated using EMD was retrospectively analyzed,and patients who developed heterochronic gastric cancer after the surgery were compared with those who did not.The effects of patient age,sex,tumor size,pathological type,and surgical technique on the development of heterochronic gastric cancer were assessed using statistical analysis.RESULTS Of the 300 patients with early gastric cancer,150 patients developed heterochronic gastric cancer after EMD.Statistical analysis revealed that patient age(P value=XX),sex(P value=XX),tumor size(P value=XX),pathological type(P value=XX),and surgical technique(P value=XX)were significantly associated with the occurrence of heterochronic gastric cancer.CONCLUSION Age,sex,tumor size,pathological type,and surgical technique are key factors influencing the occurrence of heterochronic gastric cancer after EMD in patients with early gastric cancer.To address these factors,postoperative follow-up and management should be strengthened to improve the prognosis and survival rate of patients.

Nomogram established using risk factors of early gastric cancer for predicting the lymph node metastasis

BACKGROUND For the prognosis of patients with early gastric cancer(EGC),lymph node metastasis(LNM)plays a crucial role.A thorough and precise evaluation of the patient for LNM is now required.AIM To determine the factors influencing LNM and to construct a prediction model of LNM for EGC patients.METHODS Clinical information and pathology data of 2217 EGC patients downloaded from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database were collected and analyzed.Based on a 7:3 ratio,1550 people were categorized into training sets and 667 people were assigned to testing sets,randomly.Based on the factors influencing LNM determined by the training sets,the nomogram was drawn and verified.RESULTS Based on multivariate analysis,age at diagnosis,histology type,grade,T-stage,and size were risk factors of LNM for EGC.Besides,nomogram was drawn to predict the risk of LNM for EGC patients.Among the categorical variables,the effect of grade(well,moderate,and poor)was the most significant prognosis factor.For training sets and testing sets,respectively,area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of nomograms were 0.751[95%confidence interval(CI):0.721-0.782]and 0.786(95%CI:0.742-0.830).In addition,the calibration curves showed that the prediction model of LNM had good consistency.CONCLUSION Age at diagnosis,histology type,grade,T-stage,and tumor size were independent variables for LNM in EGC.Based on the above risk factors,prediction model may offer some guiding implications for the choice of subsequent therapeutic approaches for EGC.

Gastric ectopic pancreas combined with synchronous multiple early gastric cancer: A rare case report

BACKGROUND A large percentage of patients with ectopic pancreas are asymptomatic.When present,the symptoms are typically non-specific.These lesions are predominantly located in the stomach and benign in nature.Synchronous multiple early gastric cancer(SMEGC)(two or more simultaneous malignant lesions with early gastric cancer)is relatively rare and particularly easy to overlook during endoscopic examination.The prognosis of SMEGC is generally poor.We report a rare case of ectopic pancreas with concomitant SMEGC.CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old woman presented with paroxysmal upper abdominal pain.On initial investigations,she tested positive for Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori).She underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy which revealed a 1.5 cm×2 cm major lesion at the greater curvature and a 1 cm minor lesion at the lesser curvature of the stomach.On endoscopic ultrasound,the major lesion showed hypoechoic changes,uneven internal echoes and unclear boundaries between some areas and the muscularis propria.Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed to excise the minor lesion.A laparoscopic resection was chosen for the major lesion.On histopathological examination,the major lesion contained high grade intraepithelial neoplasia with a small focus of cancer.A separate underlying ectopic pancreas was found under this lesion.The minor lesion contained high grade intraepithelial neoplasia.In this case,the patient was diagnosed with SMEGC with concomitant ectopic pancreas in the stomach.CONCLUSION Patients with atrophy,H.pylori,and other risk factors should be carefully investigated to avoid missing other lesions including SMEGC and ectopic pancreas.

Outpatient hybrid endoscopic submucosal dissection with SOUTEN for early gastric cancer,followed by endoscopic suturing of the mucosal defect:A case report

BACKGROUND Although endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)is becoming more common for early gastric cancer,it requires more advanced techniques and a longer treatment duration than endoscopic mucosal resection.Hybrid ESD using a multifunctional snare(SOUTEN)has been reported to be effective for colorectal lesions,as it can reduce treatment duration.Endoscopic suturing of post-ESD mucosal defects has been reported to reduce the incidence of ESD-related complications.CASE SUMMARY This study reports outpatient hybrid ESD for early gastric cancer using SOUTEN,followed by endoscopic suturing of post-ESD mucosal defects in an 86-year-old man.On referral for ESD,a 10-mm flat,depressed lesion was found on the posterior wall of the gastric antrum,the depth of which was expected to be mucosal.Given his history of delirium,we performed outpatient endoscopic treatment.The procedure used was hybrid ESD using SOUTEN to reduce the duration of treatment and endoscopic suturing of post-ESD mucosal ESD defects to reduce complications.The procedure time was 62 min and the lesion was completely resected based on histopathological examination,with no reported postoperative complications.CONCLUSION This safe and useful procedure may be especially important for outpatient endoscopic treatment.

The Effect of Partial Gastrectomy in the Treatment of Early Gastric Cancer and Its Impact on the Gastrointestinal Function of Patients

Objective:To investigate the impact of partial gastrectomy on gastrointestinal function in the treatment of patients with early gastric cancer.Methods:A sample of 20 patients with early-stage gastric cancer treated from January 2022 to January 2023 was randomly divided into two groups.Group A underwent partial gastrectomy,while Group B underwent distal subtotal gastrectomy.Surgical outcomes,complication rates,BMI indices,and quality of life were compared.Result:All surgical outcomes of patients with early gastric cancer in group A were better than those in group B(P<0.05);the postoperative complication rate for early gastric cancer in group A was lower than that in group B(P<0.05);the BMI index for patients with early gastric cancer in group A was higher than that in group B at different times(P<0.05);the postoperative quality of life(SF-36)score of group A for early gastric cancer was higher than that of group B(P<0.05).Conclusion:Partial gastrectomy for patients with early gastric cancer can increase BMI,optimize surgical outcomes,improve gastric function,and enhance the quality of life for gastric cancer patients.

Efficacy of multi-slice spiral computed tomography in evaluating gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND Recurrence is the major challenge facing endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)-based treatment therapies for early gastric cancer(EGC).Urgent development of simple and easy surveillance approaches will enhance clinical treatment of the disease.AIM To explore the role of computed tomography(CT)recurrence in evaluating EGC after ESD treatment.METHODS We retrospectively recruited patients from our endoscopy department,between January 2002 and December 2015,and analyzed their basic characteristics,including symptoms,CT results,and results of endoscopy with biopsy,among others.RESULTS Among a total of 2150 patients EGC patients surveyed,1362 met our inclusion and exclusion criteria and were therefore enrolled in our study.The cohort’s sensitivity of CT for recurrent GC and specificity were 44.22%and 43.86%,respectively,with negative and positive predictive values of 40.15%(275/685)and 48.01%(325/677),respectively.The area under the curve of arterial and venous CT values for recurrent EGC were 0.545,and 0.604,respectively.Receiver operating characteristic curve revealed no statistically significant differences between arterial and venous CT values for recurrent EGC.CONCLUSION Enhanced CT has superior diagnostic efficacy,but less accuracy,compared to gold standard techniques in patients with recurrent EGC.

Prediction of lymph node metastasis in early gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma:A real-world retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Signet-ring cell carcinoma(SRCC)was previously thought to have a worse prognosis than other differentiated gastric cancer(GC),however,recent studies have shown that the prognosis of SRCC is related to pathological type.We hypothesize that patients with SRCC and with different SRCC pathological components have different probability of lymph node metastasis(LNM).AIM To establish models to predict LNM in early GC(EGC),including early gastric SRCC.METHODS Clinical data from EGC patients who had undergone gastrectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2012 to March 2022 were reviewed.The patients were divided into three groups based on type:Pure SRCC,mixed SRCC,and non-signet ring cell carcinoma(NSRC).The risk factors were identified through statistical tests using SPSS 23.0,R,and EmpowerStats software.RESULTS A total of 1922 subjects with EGC were enrolled in this study,and included 249 SRCC patients and 1673 NSRC patients,while 278 of the patients(14.46%)presented with LNM.Multivariable analysis showed that gender,tumor size,depth of invasion,lymphovascular invasion,ulceration,and histological subtype were independent risk factors for LNM in EGC.Establishment and analysis using prediction models of EGC showed that the artificial neural network model was better than the logistic regression model in terms of sensitivity and accuracy(98.0%vs 58.1%,P=0.034;88.4%vs 86.8%,P<0.001,respectively).Among the 249 SRCC patients,LNM was more common in mixed(35.06%)rather than in pure SRCC(8.42%,P<0.001).The area under the ROC curve of the logistic regression model for LNM in SRCC was 0.760(95%CI:0.682-0.843),while the area under the operating characteristic curve of the internal validation set was 0.734(95%CI:0.643-0.826).The subgroups analysis of pure types showed that LNM was more common in patients with a tumor size>2 cm(OR=5.422,P=0.038).CONCLUSION A validated prediction model was developed to recognize the risk of LNM in EGC and early gastric SRCC,which can aid in pre-surgical decision making of the best method of treatment for patients.

Recent advances in gastric cancer early diagnosis

Gastric cancer(GC) remains an important cause of cancer death worldwide with a high mortality rate due to the fact that the majority of GC cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage when the prognosis is poor and the treatment options are limited. Unfortunately, the existing circulating biomarkers for GC diagnosis and prognosis display low sensitivity and specificity and the GC diagnosis is based only on the invasive procedures such as upper digestive endoscopy. There is a huge need for less invasive or non-invasive tests but also highly specific biomarkers in case of GC. Body fluids such as peripheral blood, urine or saliva,stomach wash/gastric juice could be a source of specific biomarkers, providing important data for screening and diagnosis in GC. This review summarized the recently discovered circulating molecules such as microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, which hold the promise to develop new strategies for early diagnosis of GC.

Missed diagnosis of early gastric cancer or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia

AIM: To investigate the causes of missed diagnosis of early gastric cancer (EGC) or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) in Chongqing, China. METHODS: The present study summarizes 103 cases of EGC/HGIN detected by esophagogastroduodenos-copy (EGD) and pathological analysis from January 2010 to December 2011. Dimethyl silicone oil was administrated orally 15 min before the EGD procedures. The stomach was cleaned by repeated washing with saline when the gastroscope entered the stomach cavity. Suspected EGC lesions were subject to conventional biopsy sampling and pathological examinations. The correlation between lesion locations, endoscopic morphology of cancerous sites, training level of the examiners, pathological biopsies, and missed diagnosis was analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three cases were missed among the 103 cases (22.23%) of EGC/HGIN. The rate of missed EGC in the gastroesophageal junction (8/19, 42.1%) was significantly higher than at other sites (15/84, 17.86%) (χ2 = 5.253, P = 0.022). In contrast, the rate of missed EGC in the lower stomach body (2/14, 14.29%) was lower than at other sites (21/89,23.6%), but there were no significant differences (χ2 = 0.289, P = 0.591). The rate of missed EGC in the gastric antrum (5/33, 15.15%) was lower than at other sites (18/70, 25.71%), but there were no significant differences (χ2 = 1.443, P = 0.230). Endoscopists from less prestigious hospitals were more prone to not diagnosing EGC than those from more prestigious hospitals (χ2 = 4.261, P = 0.039). When the number of biopsies was < 4, the rate of missed diagnosis was higher (20/23, 89.96%) than for when there were > 4 biopsies (3/23, 13.04%) (P < 0.001). In addition, there was no significant difference in the rate of missed diagnosis in patients with 1-3 biopsy specimens (χ2 = 0.141, P = 0.932). CONCLUSION: Endoscopists should have a clear understanding of the anatomical characteristics of the esophagus/stomach, and endoscopic identification of early lesions increases with the number of biopsies.