Safety and usefulness of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early esophageal cancers in elderly patients aged 80 years or older

Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer Endoscopic Diagnosis and Treatment: Focusing on Older Adults

Recent advances in endoscopic equipment have improved the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors. Image-enhanced endoscopy, including narrow-band imaging, blue light imaging, and linked color imaging, has unified magnifying observation classification methods and significantly improved the qualitative and quantitative diagnostic performance of gastrointestinal epithelial tumors. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), a minimally invasive treatment for early-stage gastrointestinal cancer, is widely used. The aging population in Japan has been gradually increasing. Despite this, ESD has shown good outcomes in older adults. However, long-term prognostic analyses should take into account the high mortality rate from other illnesses. Prognostic indicators such as the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the Prognostic Nutrition Index (PNI) should be used to determine whether ESD should be performed. Even in cases of noncurative resection, follow-up without additional surgical resection is an option if there are other comorbidities that affect the prognosis.

Long-Term Prognostic Factors for Patients Aged 80 and Older With Superficial Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an acceptable treatment for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) even in elderly patients. However, studies on the prognostic factors in very elderly patients are limited. Therefore, we aimed to explore the prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) in patients aged ≥ 80 with superficial ESCC who underwent ESD.

METHODS

This study included 155 patients aged ≥ 80 who underwent ESD for superficial ESCC. Clinicopathological findings and long-term outcomes were examined. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and geriatric nutritional index (GNRI) were used to assess pre-treatment nutritional status.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients (18.7%) were aged ≥ 85. Thirty-five (22.6%) and 61 (39.4%) patients had a GNRI < 92 and PNI < 45, respectively. Metastatic relapse was observed in five cases, four (80%) of which resulted in death due to the primary disease. The median OS of all patients was 86 months. Although factors specifically associated with disease-specific survival were not identified, GNRI, PNI, comorbidity, and physical status were associated with OS. In multivariate analysis, age ≥ 85 years (p = 0.03), GNRI (p < 0.01), and PNI (p < 0.01) remained factors associated with OS. Patients aged ≥ 85 with either GNRI ≥ 92 or PNI ≥ 45 had a median OS of 106 months, whereas those aged ≥ 85 with GNRI < 92 had a median OS of 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

GNRI and PNI are important indicators for assessing the suitability of ESD in elderly patients aged ≥ 80. These indices can help predict OS and guide clinical decision-making for this patient population.

Risk and pathologic factors of recurrence after endoscopic resection for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The risk and pathologic factors of recurrence after endoscopic resection (ER) for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are inconsistent across studies. We evaluated this in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

The data of recurrence in such patients were extracted from all studies. Risk ratios (RRs) were combined using random-effects meta-analysis to assess pooled recurrence rate and pathologic risk factors. Relapse-free survival was combined using the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate the relationship between various pathologic factors and recurrence time.

RESULTS

We identified 26 studies, with a total of 5100 patients and 321 with recurrences (pooled rate, 6.2%). The risk of recurrence was significantly higher in positive vertical margin (RR, 4.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.16-9.44), positive horizontal margin (RR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.57-4.13), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (RR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.75-3.11; P < .001), lymphatic invasion (LI) (RR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.24-4.06), and tumor invading submucosa of ≤200 μm (SM1) (RR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.32-2.21, compared to muscularis mucosa). Patients with LI (hazard ratio, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.24-4.90; P = .02) and LVI (HR, 2.36; 95% CI, 2.22-4.59; P = .0006) tended to have earlier recurrence after ER.

CONCLUSIONS

The recurrence rate of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after ER is acceptable. Patients with positive margins, LVI, LI, and SM1 need to pay significant attention to the risk of recurrence. LI and VI should be evaluated separately. (PROSPERO CRD42023406309.).

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic resection of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in late-elderly patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

As the population ages, the number of elderly patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is increasing. We aimed to clarify the indications for endoscopic resection (ER) in late-elderly patients with ESCC in terms of life expectancy.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥75 years who underwent ER for ESCC at our institution from January 2005 to December 2018 were enrolled. Clinical data, including the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA-PS), Charlson comorbidity index, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), were collected at the time of ER. The main outcome measure was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Two hundred eight consecutive patients were enrolled. The patients' median age was 78 years (range, 75-89 years). The 5-year follow-up rate was 88.5% (median follow-up period, 6.6 years). The 5-year OS rate was 79.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.2-84.8), and 5-year net survival standardized for age, sex, and calendar year was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.98-1.09). In the multivariate analysis, an ASA-PS of 3 (hazard ratio, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.16-5.17) and PNI of <44.0 (hazard ratio, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.38-5.40) were independent prognostic factors. When neither of these factors was met, the 5-year OS rate was 87.8% (95% CI, 80.0-92.9), and 5-year net survival was 1.08 (95% CI, 1.02-1.14).

CONCLUSIONS

ER for ESCC in late-elderly patients may improve life expectancy. ER is recommended in patients with a good ASA-PS and PNI.

Assessment of photodynamic therapy as a salvage treatment for local failure after chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy for esophageal cancer in patients aged 80 years or older

Objectives

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or radiotherapy (RT) alone is often the treatment of choice for elderly patients with esophageal cancer with the expectation of organ preservation. However, salvage treatment remains a problem when endoscopic resection is not indicated for local failure after CRT/RT. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is indicated for local failure after CRT/RT, but there are few reports on its efficacy and safety in elderly patients. This study aimed to assess the outcome of PDT for local failure after CRT/RT for esophageal cancer in elderly patients.

Methods

This retrospective single-center study included 42 patients who first underwent PDT between April 2013 and June 2021. Patients aged ≥80 and <80 years were classified into the elderly and nonelderly groups, respectively. Local complete response rate, overall survival, progression-free survival, and incidence of adverse events related to PDT were compared retrospectively between the groups.

Results

The local complete response rate was 93.3% in the elderly group and 85.7 in the non-elderly group. The 2-year overall survival rate was 68.6% and 72.5%, and the 2-year progression-free survival rate was 49.5% and 70.0% in the elderly and nonelderly groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in any of these outcomes between the groups. In terms of adverse events, pneumonia and delirium tended to occur more frequently in the elderly group, but there were no serious adverse events in either group.

Conclusion

The outcome of salvage PDT in the local control was comparable between the elderly and nonelderly patients for local failure after CRT/RT for esophageal cancer.

Management of elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer

This review focuses on the treatment about elderly esophageal cancer to clarify the current situation regarding our clinical question. Although there are several reviews about elderly esophageal cancer treatment, there are fundamental differences between Japan and the rest of the world. Two main differences are raised: histological differences and treatment strategies for resectable patients. We overview each status according to following clinical questions. First, there are no established evaluation criteria for frail. Second, selection criteria for surgery or non-surgery are not established. Third, few specific treatments for elderly patients (EPs) are investigated. In conclusion, there are many reports about treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma for EPs, although treatment strategy is still controversial. We have to consider well-designed prospective trial to confirm specific treatment strategy according to each stage.

Endoscopic resection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Current indications and treatment outcomes

Endoscopic resection (ER) is an alternate minimally invasive treatment for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC). We aimed to review the clinical indications and treatment outcomes of ER for SESCC. Endoscopic mucosal resection is relatively easy and efficient for SESCC ≤ 15 mm. In contrast, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is recommended to achieve en bloc resection for lesions >15 mm, in view of the accurate pathological evaluation. The Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society guidelines recommend ER for non-circumferential cT1a-EP/LPM (epithelium/lamina propria mucosae), cT1a-MM/T1b-SM1 (muscularis mucosa/superficial submucosa ≤ 200μm) SESCC, and whole-circumferential T1a-EP/LPM SESCC ≤ 50 mm (upon implementing preventive measures for stenosis), considering the risk-benefit balance of ER. It defines pT1a-EP/LPM without lymphovascular invasion as a curative endoscopic resection. The guidelines recommend additional esophagectomy or chemoradiotherapy for pT1b SESCC or any SESCC, with lymphovascular invasion. However, there is no recommendation for or against the administration of additional treatments for pT1a-MM without lymphovascular invasion, owing to limited evidence. Researchers have reported on high en bloc and R0 resection rates of ESD, and a randomized controlled trial demonstrated that clip-line traction-assisted ESD could significantly reduce the ESD procedural time. Moreover, steroid treatment has been developed to prevent post-ESD esophageal strictures. There have been reports on favorable long-term outcomes of ESD. However, most of them are retrospective studies. Further robust data in prospective trials are warranted to achieve a definitive evidence of ESD, which will be beneficial to patients with SESCC.