Safety and efficacy of endoscopic mucosal therapy with radiofrequency ablation for patients with neoplastic Barrett's esophagus

The impact of endoscopic treatment on health-related quality of life in patients with Barrett's neoplasia: a scoping review

PURPOSE

The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent, type of evidence, and overall findings in relation to the impact of endoscopic treatment (ET) on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients with Barrett's dysplasia and early oesophageal cancer.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted for literature between 2001 and 2022 in computerised databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL Complete). Additionally, sources of unpublished literature were searched in Google Advanced Search. After title and abstract checking, full-text papers were retrieved. Data were extracted, synthesised, key information tabulated, and a narrative synthesis completed.

RESULTS

Six studies were included in the final analysis. Twelve different survey tools were utilised across all studies. Study designs included three randomised controlled studies, two prospective observational studies, and a single retrospective observational study. The average age of study participants ranged from 60.3 to 71.0 years. Two studies evaluated HR-QoL as primary outcome measures, but most research evaluated HR-QoL as a secondary outcome. Health domains evaluated in the studies focussed on the biophysical and psychosocial aspects of quality of life.

CONCLUSION

A small number of research studies have been conducted in this area. Due to the heterogeneity and small number of included studies, it was difficult to draw conclusions about the impact of specific ET types on HR-QoL. Overall, there were perceived psychological benefits while undergoing ET. Future research could target specific ET subtypes and measure HR-QoL at baseline and post-procedures in the short and long term.

Barrett's Esophagus: An Updated Review

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is a change in the distal esophageal mucosal lining, whereby metaplastic columnar epithelium replaces squamous epithelium of the esophagus. This change represents a pre-malignant mucosal transformation which has a known association with the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a risk factor for BE, other risk factors include patients who are Caucasian, age > 50 years, central obesity, tobacco use, history of peptic stricture and erosive gastritis. Screening for BE remains selective based on risk factors, a screening program in the general population is not routinely recommended. Diagnosis of BE is established with a combination of endoscopic recognition, targeted biopsies, and histologic confirmation of columnar metaplasia. We aim to provide a comprehensive review of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, screening and advanced techniques of detecting and eradicating Barrett’s esophagus.

Induction and maintenance of healing in erosive esophagitis in the United States

INTRODUCTION

Erosive esophagitis (EE) occurs when refluxate from the stomach causes T-lymphocyte infiltration of the esophageal mucosa, resulting in mucosal breaks. Currently, therapy with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) is the standard treatment for EE in the United States, but few comprehensive reviews exist on the efficacy of PPIs in US populations. Here, we present the most contemporary, thorough analysis of PPI efficacy rates, and identify and characterize patient subgroups at risk for poor healing outcomes.

AREAS COVERED

We searched the literature to identify studies reporting rates of endoscopic healing and maintained healing of EE with PPI therapies in the US and found a paucity of recent evidence and real-world evidence. Twenty-two studies from 2009 and earlier were included in the final dataset.

EXPERT OPINION

Rates of EE healing with PPIs were highest after 8 weeks of treatment, with over 80% of patients in most treatment arms demonstrating endoscopic healing, compared to lower efficacy (<80%) at 4 weeks. Rates of maintained healing with PPIs at 6 and 12 months were mostly lower than 80%, although the data were limited. Symptomatic patients and those with severe EE were less likely to achieve healing. Obese patients experienced similar healing rates as non-obese patients.

Rio de Janeiro Global Consensus on Landmarks, Definitions, and Classifications in Barrett's Esophagus: World Endoscopy Organization Delphi Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Despite the significant advances made in the diagnosis and treatment of Barrett's esophagus (BE), there is still a need for standardized definitions, appropriate recognition of endoscopic landmarks, and consistent use of classification systems. Current controversies in basic definitions of BE and the relative lack of anatomic knowledge are significant barriers to uniform documentation. We aimed to provide consensus-driven recommendations for uniform reporting and global application.

METHODS

The World Endoscopy Organization Barrett's Esophagus Committee appointed leaders to develop an evidence-based Delphi study. A working group of 6 members identified and formulated 23 statements, and 30 internationally recognized experts from 18 countries participated in 3 rounds of voting. We defined consensus as agreement by ≥80% of experts for each statement and used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool to assess the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations.

RESULTS

After 3 rounds of voting, experts achieved consensus on 6 endoscopic landmarks (palisade vessels, gastroesophageal junction, squamocolumnar junction, lesion location, extraluminal compressions, and quadrant orientation), 13 definitions (BE, hiatus hernia, squamous islands, columnar islands, Barrett's endoscopic therapy, endoscopic resection, endoscopic ablation, systematic inspection, complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia, complete eradication of dysplasia, residual disease, recurrent disease, and failure of endoscopic therapy), and 4 classification systems (Prague, Los Angeles, Paris, and Barrett's International NBI Group). In round 1, 18 statements (78%) reached consensus, with 12 (67%) receiving strong agreement from more than half of the experts. In round 2, 4 of the remaining statements (80%) reached consensus, with 1 statement receiving strong agreement from 50% of the experts. In the third round, a consensus was reached on the remaining statement.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed evidence-based, consensus-driven statements on endoscopic landmarks, definitions, and classifications of BE. These recommendations may facilitate global uniform reporting in BE.

Barrett’s esophagus: Review of natural history and comparative efficacy of endoscopic and surgical therapies

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Progression to cancer typically occurs in a stepwise fashion through worsening dysplasia and ultimately, invasive neoplasia. Established EAC with deep involvement of the esophageal wall and/or metastatic disease is invariably associated with poor long-term survival rates. This guides the rationale of surveillance of Barrett’s in an attempt to treat lesions at an earlier, and potentially curative stage. The last two decades have seen a paradigm shift in management of Barrett’s with rapid expansion in the role of endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) for management of dysplastic and early neoplastic BE, and there have been substantial changes to international consensus guidelines for management of early BE based on evolving evidence. This review aims to assist the physician in the therapeutic decision-making process with patients by comprehensive review and summary of literature surrounding natural history of Barrett’s by histological stage, and the effectiveness of interventions in attenuating the risk posed by its natural history. Key findings were as follows. Non-dysplastic Barrett’s is associated with extremely low risk of progression, and interventions cannot be justified. The annual risk of cancer progression in low grade dysplasia is between 1%-3%; EET can be offered though evidence for its benefit remains confined to highly select settings. High-grade dysplasia progresses to cancer in 5%-10% per year; EET is similarly effective to and less morbid than surgery and should be routinely performed for this indication. Risk of nodal metastases in intramucosal cancer is 2%-4%, which is comparable to operative mortality rate, so EET is usually preferred. Submucosal cancer is associated with nodal metastases in 14%-41% hence surgery remains standard of care, except for select situations.

Utility of ancillary studies in the diagnosis and risk assessment of Barrett's esophagus and dysplasia

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a major risk factor for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). BE patients undergo periodic endoscopic surveillance with biopsies to detect dysplasia and EAC, but this strategy is imperfect owing to sampling error and inconsistencies in the diagnosis and grading of dysplasia, which may result in an inaccurate diagnosis or risk assessment for progression to EAC. The desire for more accurate diagnosis and better risk stratification has prompted the investigation and development of potential biomarkers that might assist pathologists and clinicians in the management of BE patients, allowing more aggressive endoscopic surveillance and treatment options to be targeted to high-risk individuals, while avoiding frequent surveillance or unnecessary interventions in those at lower risk. It is known that progression of BE to dysplasia and EAC is accompanied by a host of genetic alterations, and that exploration of these markers could be potentially useful to diagnose/grade dysplasia and/or to risk stratify BE patients. Several biomarkers have shown promise in identifying early neoplastic transformation and thus may be useful adjuncts to histologic evaluation. This review provides an overview of some of the currently available biomarkers and assays, including p53 immunostaining, Wide Area Transepithelial Sampling with Three-Dimensional Computer-Assisted Analysis (WATS^3D), TissueCypher, mutational load analysis (BarreGen), fluorescence in situ hybridization, and DNA content abnormalities as detected by DNA flow cytometry.

The Influence of Different Treatment Strategies on the Long-Term Prognosis of T1 Stage Esophageal Cancer Patients

Objective

To compare the long-term prognosis effects of non-esophagectomy and esophagectomy on patients with T1 stage esophageal cancer.

Methods

All esophageal cancer patients in the study were included from the National Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database between 2005-2015. These patients were classified into non-esophagectomy group and esophagectomy group according to therapy methods and were compared in terms of esophagus cancer specific survival (ECSS) and overall survival (OS) rates.

Results

A total of 591 patients with T1 stage esophageal cancer were enrolled in this study, including 212 non-esophagectomy patients and 111 esophagectomy patients in the T1a subgroup and 37 non-esophagectomy patients and 140 esophagectomy patients in the T1b subgroup. In all T1 stage esophageal cancer patients, there was no difference in the effect of non-esophagectomy and esophagectomy on postoperative OS, but postoperative ECSS in patients treated with non-esophagectomy was significantly better than those treated with esophagectomy. Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that the risk factors affecting ECSS included race, primary site, tumor size, grade, and AJCC stage but factors affecting OS only include tumor size, grade, and AJCC stage in T1 stage patients. In the subgroup analysis, there was no difference in either ECSS or OS between the non-esophagectomy group and the esophagectomy group in T1a patients. However, in T1b patients, the OS after esophagectomy was considerably better than that of non-esophagectomy.

Conclusions

Non-esophagectomy, including a variety of non-invasive procedures, is a safe and available option for patients with T1a stage esophageal cancer. For some T1b esophageal cancer patients, esophagectomy cannot be replaced at present due to its diagnostic and therapeutic effect on lymph node metastasis.

Wide-field endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of Barrett's esophagus neoplasia

Background and study aims  Implementation of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the treatment of Barrett's esophagus neoplasia (BEN) has been hampered by high rates of positive margins and complications. Dissection with wider margins was proposed to overcome these problems, but was never tested. We aim to compare Wide-Field ESD (WF-ESD) with conventional ESD (C-ESD) for treatment of BEN. Patients and methods  This was a cohort study of all ESDs performed in our center during 2011 to 2018. C-ESD was the only technique used before 2014, with WF-ESD used beginning in 2014. In WF-ESD marking was performed 10 mm from the tumor margin compared to 5 mm with C-E. Results  ESD was performed in 90 cases, corresponding to 74 patients, 84 % male, median age 69. Of these, 22 were C-ESD (24 %) and 68 were WF-ESD (76 %). The en bloc resection rate was 95 vs 100 % (ns), the positive lateral margin rate was 23 % vs 3 % ( P  < 0.01), the R0 rate was 73 % vs 90 %, and the curative resection rate was 59 % vs 76 % in the C-ESD and WF-ESD groups, respectively, (both P  > 0.05). The procedure speed was 4.4 and 2.3 (min/mm) in the C-ESD and WF-ESD groups ( P  < 0.01), respectively. WF-ESD was associated with less post-operative strictures, 6 % vs 27 % ( P  = 0.01), with no local recurrence but no significantly reduced risk of metachronous recurrence (Hazard Ratio = 0.46, 95 %CI = 0.14-1.46), during a follow-up of 13.4 and 9.4 months in the C-ESD and WF-ESD cohorts, respectively. Conclusions  WF-ESD is associated with a reduction in positive lateral margins, faster dissection, and lower stricture rates. Further prospective, multicenter studies are warranted to evaluate its role in clinical practice.

A study of evaluating specific tissue oxygen saturation values of gastrointestinal tumors by removing adherent substances in oxygen saturation imaging

OBJECTIVES

Oxygen saturation (OS) imaging is a new method of endoscopic imaging that has clinical applications in oncology which can directly measure tissue oxygen saturation (Sto2) of the surface of gastrointestinal tract without any additional drugs or devices. This imaging technology is expected to contribute to research into cancer biology which leads to clinical benefit such as prediction to efficacy of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, adherent substances on tumors such as blood and white coating, pose a challenge for accurate measurements of the StO2 values in tumors. The aim of this study was to develop algorithms for discriminating between the tumors and their adherent substances, and to investigate whether it is possible to evaluate the tumor specific StO2 values excluding adherent substances during OS imaging.

METHODS

We plotted areas of tumors and their adherent substances using white-light images of 50 upper digestive tumors: blood (68 plots); reddish tumor (83 plots); white coating (89 plots); and whitish tumor (79 plots). Scatter diagrams and discriminating algorithms using spectrum signal intensity values were constructed and verified using validation datasets. StO2 values were compared between the tumors and tumor adherent substances using OS images of gastrointestinal tumors.

RESULTS

The discriminating algorithms and their accuracy rates (AR) were as follows: blood vs. reddish tumor: Y> - 4.90X+7.13 (AR: 95.9%) and white coating vs. whitish tumor: Y< -0.52X+0.17 (AR: 96.0%). The StO2 values (median, [range]) were as follows: blood, 79.3% [37.8%-100.0%]; reddish tumor, 74.5% [62.0%-86.9%]; white coating, 73.8% [42.1%-100.0%]; and whitish tumor, 65.7% [53.0%-76.3%].

CONCLUSIONS

OS imaging is strongly influenced by adherent substances for evaluating the specific StO2 value of tumors; therefore, it is important to eliminate the information of adherent substances for clinical application of OS imaging.

Persistent or recurrent Barrett's neoplasia after an endoscopic therapy session is associated with DNA content abnormality and can be detected by DNA flow cytometric analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue

Endoscopic therapy is currently the standard of care for the treatment of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or intramucosal adenocarcinoma (IMC) in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). Visible lesions are treated with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), which is often coupled with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, endoscopic therapy may require multiple sessions (one session every 2-3 months) and does not always assure complete eradication of neoplasia. Furthermore, despite complete eradication, recurrences are not uncommon. This study assesses which potential risk factors can predict a poor response after endoscopic sessions. Forty-five BE patients who underwent at least one endoscopic session (EMR alone or ablation with or without preceding EMR) for the treatment of HGD/IMC, low-grade dysplasia (LGD), or indefinite for dysplasia (IND) were analyzed. DNA flow cytometry was performed on 82 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from the 45 patients, including 78 HGD/IMC, 2 LGD, and 2 IND. Eight non-dysplastic BE samples were used as controls. Three to four 60-micron thick sections were cut from each tissue block, and the area of HGD/IMC, LGD, or IND was manually dissected. Potential associations between clinicopathologic risk factors and persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC following each endoscopic session were examined using univariate and multivariate Cox models with frailty terms. Sixty (73%) of the 82 specimens showed abnormal DNA content (aneuploidy or elevated 4N fraction). These were all specimens with HGD/IMC (representing 77% of that group). Of these 60 HGD/IMC samples with abnormal DNA content, 42 (70%) were associated with subsequent development of persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC (n = 41) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC; n = 1) within a mean follow-up time of 16 months (range: 1 month to 9.4 years). In contrast, only 6 (27%, all HGD/IMC) of the 22 remaining samples (all with normal DNA content) were associated with persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC. For outcome analysis per patient, 11 (24%) of the 45 patients developed persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC or EAC, despite multiple endoscopic sessions (mean: 3.6, range: 1-11). In a univariate Cox model, the presence of abnormal DNA content (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.8, p = 0.007), long BE segment ≥ 3 cm (HR = 3.4, p = 0.002), endoscopic nodularity (HR = 2.5, p = 0.042), and treatment with EMR alone (HR = 2.9, p = 0.006) were significantly associated with an increased risk for persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC or EAC. However, only abnormal DNA content (HR = 6.0, p = 0.003) and treatment with EMR alone (HR = 2.7, p = 0.047) remained as significant risk factors in a multivariate analysis. Age ≥ 60 years, gender, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m², presence of hiatal hernia, and positive EMR lateral margin for neoplasia were not significant risk factors for persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC or EAC (p > 0.05). Three-month, 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, and 6-year adjusted probabilities of persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC or EAC in the setting of abnormal DNA content were 31%, 56%, 67%, 79%, and 83%, respectively. The corresponding probabilities in the setting of normal DNA content were 10%, 21%, 28%, 38%, and 43%, respectively. In conclusion, in BE patients with baseline HGD/IMC, both DNA content abnormality and treatment with EMR alone were significantly associated with persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC or EAC following each endoscopic session. DNA content abnormality as detected by DNA flow cytometry identifies HGD/IMC patients at highest risk for persistent/recurrent HGD/IMC or EAC, and it also serves as a diagnostic marker of HGD/IMC with an estimated sensitivity of 77%. The diagnosis of HGD/IMC in the setting of abnormal DNA content may warrant alternative treatment strategies as well as long-term follow-up with shorter surveillance intervals.

Optimizing Outcomes with Radiofrequency Ablation of Barrett's Esophagus: Candidates, Efficacy and Durability

The treatment of early Barrett's esophagus (BE) has undergone a paradigm shift from surgical subtotal esophagectomy to organ-saving endoluminal treatment. Over the past 15 years, several high-quality studies were conducted to assess safe oncological outcome of endoscopic resection of mucosal adenocarcinoma and high-grade dysplasia. It became clear that add-on ablative therapy with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) significantly reduces recurrence risk of neoplasia after resection. In this review, we highlight the most essential elements to optimize outcomes of RFA of BE, addressing the correct indication and patient selection in combination with the most efficient and safest treatment protocols to obtain long-term durability.

Multifocal Cryoballoon Ablation for Eradication of Barrett's Esophagus-Related Neoplasia: A Prospective Multicenter Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION:

Ablation of Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the preferred approach for the treatment of neoplasia without visible lesions. Limited data on cryoballoon ablation (CBA) suggest its potential clinical utility. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of CBA in a multicenter study of patients with neoplastic BE.

METHODS:

In a prospective clinical trial, 11 academic and community centers recruited consecutive patients with BE of 1–6 cm length and low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia (HGD), or intramucosal adenocarcinoma (ImCA) confirmed by central pathology. Patients with symptomatic pre-existing strictures or visible BE lesions had dilation or endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), respectively, before enrollment. A nitrous oxide cryoballoon focal ablation system was used to treat all visible columnar mucosa in up to 5 sessions. Study end points included complete eradication of all dysplasia (CE-D) and intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) at 1 year.

RESULTS:

One hundred twenty patients with BE with ImCA (20%), HGD (56%), or low-grade dysplasia (23%) were enrolled. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the CE-D and CE-IM rates were 76% and 72%, respectively. In the per-protocol analysis (94 patients), the CE-D and CE-IM rates were 97% and 91%, respectively. Postablation pain was mild and short lived. Fifteen subjects (12.5%) developed strictures requiring dilation. One patient (0.8%) with HGD progressed to ImCA, which was successfully treated with EMR. Another patient (0.8%) developed gastrointestinal bleeding associated with clopidogrel use. One patient (0.8%) had buried BE with HGD in 1 biopsy, not confirmed by subsequent EMR.

DISCUSSION:

In patients with neoplastic BE, CBA was safe and effective. Head-to-head comparisons between CBA and other ablation modalities are warranted (clinicaltrials.gov registration NCT02514525).

To Investigate Outcomes In Endoscopic Management Of Early Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma In Barrett's Oesophagus: Experience At Three Australian Tertiary Centres

BACKGROUND

Barrett's oesophagus (BO) is known precursor of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Early EAC includes T1a (invasion into mucosa) and T1b (invasion into submucosa but not muscularis propria). Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) provides accurate histological staging and definitive treatment for early EAC. Post EMR, the remaining Barrett's is eradicated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, there is a paucity of long-term Australian data.

AIMS

To investigate the efficacy and long-term outcomes of EMR and RFA in management of early EAC.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients early EAC treated endoscopically at three Western Australian tertiary centres, with at least 12-months follow-up, over last 10-years.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients with early EAC (61 T1a and 6 T1b) were treated with EMR. Complete Barrett's eradication was done by EMR in 31/67 patients whereas 36/67 patients underwent RFA for residual Barrett's. EMR changed pinch biopsy histology from HGD (n=33), HGD suspicious for IMC (n=5) and LGD (n=1) to early EAC in 58.2% (n=39) patients. During a mean follow-up of 37.2 months (IQR 20, 56), complete remission of dysplasia (CRD) and intestinal metaplasia (CRIM) was seen in 97% (n=65) and 89.5% (n=60) patients. One patient with T1b EAC underwent oesophagectomy. No cases developed metachronous EAC, progression to invasive adenocarcinoma or development of nodal/distant metastasis. Complications were endoscopically treated haematemesis (n=1) and strictures (n=16) requiring dilatations. 3 patients died due to causes unrelated to IMC.

CONCLUSION

EMR in conjunction with RFA is an effective and safe management for early EAC. EMR provides accurate staging and has low complication rates. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The role of esophagectomy in the management of Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia

Barrett's esophagus (BE) with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) has previously been a routine indication for esophagectomy. Recent advances in endoscopic therapy have resulted in a shift away from surgery. Current international guidelines recommend endoscopic therapy for BE with HGD irrespective of recurrence or progression of dysplasia. Current guidelines do not address the ongoing role of esophagectomy as an adjunct in the setting of failed endoscopic therapy. This review examines the role of esophagectomy as an adjunct to endoscopy in the management of patients with BE and HGD, with a specific focus on patients with persistent, progressive, or recurrent disease, disease resistant to endoscopic therapy, in patients with concomitant esophageal pathology, and in those patients in whom lifelong surveillance may not be possible or desired.

Management of Barrett’s esophagus with dysplasia refractory to radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is very effective for eradication of flat Barrett’s mucosa in dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus after endoscopic resection of raised lesions. However, in a minority of the time, RFA may be ineffective at eradication of the Barrett’s mucosa. Achieving complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia can be challenging in these patients. This review article focuses on the management of patients with dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus refractory to RFA therapy. Management strategies discussed in this review include optimizing the RFA procedure, optimizing acid suppression (with medical, endoscopic, and surgical management), cryotherapy, hybrid argon plasma coagulation, and EndoRotor resection.

Proton Pump Inhibitors and Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment of Barrett's Esophagus

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is characterized by acid and bile reflux in the distal oesophagus, and this may cause the development of reflux esophagitis and Barrett's oesophagus (BE). The natural histological course of untreated BE is non-dysplastic or benign BE (ND), then lowgrade (LGD) and High-Grade Dysplastic (HGD) BE, with the expected increase in malignancy transfer to oesophagal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The gold standard for BE diagnostics involves high-resolution white-light endoscopy, followed by uniform endoscopy findings description (Prague classification) with biopsy performance according to Seattle protocol. The medical treatment of GERD and BE includes the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) regarding symptoms control. It is noteworthy that long-term use of PPIs increases gastrin level, which can contribute to transfer from BE to EAC, as a result of its effects on the proliferation of BE epithelium. Endoscopy treatment includes a wide range of resection and ablative techniques, such as radio-frequency ablation (RFA), often concomitantly used in everyday endoscopy practice (multimodal therapy). RFA promotes mucosal necrosis of treated oesophagal region via high-frequency energy. Laparoscopic surgery, partial or total fundoplication, is reserved for PPIs and endoscopy indolent patients or in those with progressive disease. This review aims to explain distinct effects of PPIs and RFA modalities, illuminate certain aspects of molecular mechanisms involved, as well as the effects of their concomitant use regarding the treatment of BE and prevention of its transfer to EAC.

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Of An Adenocarcinoma Risk Prediction Multi-Biomarker Assay For Patients With Barrett's Esophagus

PURPOSE

This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of a quantitative multi-biomarker assay (the Assay) that stratifies patients with Barrett's Esophagus (BE) by risk of progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and can be used to guide clinical decisions, versus the current guidelines (standard of care [SOC]) for surveillance and treatment of BE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Markov decision modeling and simulation were used to compare cost and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) from the perspective of a US health insurer with care delivered by an integrated health system. Model assumptions and disease progression probabilities were derived from the literature. Performance metrics for the Assay were from an independent clinical validation study. Cost of the Assay was based on reimbursement rates from multiple payers. Other costs were derived from Geisinger payment data.

RESULTS

Base-case model results for a 5-year period comparing the Assay-directed care to the SOC estimated an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $52,483/QALY in 2012 US dollars. Assay-directed care increased the use of endoscopic treatments by 58.4%, which reduced the progression to HGD, EAC and reduced EAC-related deaths by 51.7%, 47.1%, and 37.6%, respectively, over the 5-year period. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the probability of the Assay being cost-effective compared to the SOC was 57.3% at the $100,000/QALY acceptability threshold.

CONCLUSION

Given the model assumptions, the new Assay would be cost-effective after 5 years and improves patient outcomes due to improvement in the effectiveness of surveillance and treatment protocols resulting in fewer patients progressing to HGD and EAC and fewer EAC-related deaths.

Shorter time to achieve endoscopic eradication is not associated with improved long-term outcomes in Barrett's esophagus

Quality indicators have been proposed for endoscopic eradication therapy of Barrett's esophagus (BE). One such measure suggests that complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) should be achieved within 18 months of starting treatment. The aim of this study was to assess whether achievement of CE-IM within 18 months is associated with improved long-term clinical outcomes. This was a retrospective cohort study of BE patients who underwent endoscopic eradication. Time to CE-IM was recorded and categorized as ≤ or > 18 months. The main outcome measures were recurrence of IM and of dysplasia after CE-IM, defined as a single endoscopy without endoscopic evidence of BE or histologic evidence of intestinal metaplasia. Recurrence was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling. A total of 290 patients were included in the analyses. The baseline histology was high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma in 74.2% of patients. CE-IM was achieved in 85.5% of patients, and 54.1% of the cohort achieved CE-IM within 18 months. Achieving CE-IM within 18 months was not associated with reduced risk of recurrence of IM or dysplasia in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. In this cohort, older age and increased BE length were associated with IM recurrence, and increased hiatal hernia size was associated with dysplasia recurrence. Compared to longer times, achieving CE-IM within 18 months was not associated with a reduced risk of recurrence of IM or dysplasia. Alternative evidence-based quality metrics for endoscopic eradication therapy should be identified.

Management of Barrett Esophagus Following Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) effectively treats dysplastic Barrett esophagus (BE), reduces the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and infrequently produces complications. Complications of RFA include chest discomfort, esophageal stricturing, and bleeding. However, chest discomfort is usually transient and mild, strictures are generally amenable to dilation, and clinically significant bleeding is rare. Following RFA, intestinal metaplasia recurs at a rate of approximately 10% per patient year of follow-up time. Postablation dysplastic BE and EAC are rare. Moreover, recurrent disease is generally responsive to further endoscopic therapy and is associated with a benign clinical course. Although RFA is effective at producing low rates of postablation EAC and dysplastic recurrence, data suggest that current consensus guidelines for postablation surveillance are overly aggressive, as they mirror those for treatment-naive cohorts. Future guidelines may attenuate surveillance intervals, reducing the burden of endoscopic surveillance while providing for adequate detection of recurrent disease. Additional studies are needed to determine the length of time patients should ultimately remain in surveillance programs. Uncertainty exists regarding the appropriate application of chemopreventive measures (including proton pump inhibitors, aspirin, and statins) and novel imaging and sampling modalities (such as optical coherence tomography and wide-area transepithelial sampling) to reduce the risk of recurrent disease and sampling error, respectively. These uncertainties represent targets for future investigations.

Balloon catheter-based radiofrequency ablation monitoring in porcine esophagus using optical coherence tomography

We present a microscopic image guidance platform for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using a clinical balloon-catheter-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, currently used in the surveillance of Barrett's esophagus patients. Our integrated thermal therapy delivery and monitoring platform consists of a flexible, customized bipolar RFA electrode array designed for use with a clinical balloon OCT catheter and a processing algorithm to accurately map the thermal coagulation process. Non-uniform rotation distortion was corrected using a feature tracking-based technique, which enables robust, frame-to-frame analysis of the temporal fluctuation of the complex OCT signal. With proper noise calibration, precise delineation of the thermal therapy zone was demonstrated using cumulative complex differential variance in porcine esophagus ex vivo with the integrated OCT-RFA system, as validated by nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBTC) histology. The ability to directly and accurately visualize the thermal coagulation process at high resolution is critical to the precise delivery of thermal energy to a wide range of epithelial lesions.

Liquid Nitrogen Spray Cryotherapy is Associated With Less Postprocedural Pain Than Radiofrequency Ablation in Barrett's Esophagus: A Multicenter Prospective Study

GOALS AND BACKGROUND

Two common endoscopic therapies for eradication of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus are radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy (LNC). There is no data comparing postprocedural pain. This study aimed to compare the incidence of postprocedural pain between the 2 ablation modalities.

METHODS

This is a multicenter prospective study in which pain intensity scores and the presence of dysphagia were assessed immediately before and after treatment, 48 hours posttreatment and at 3 weeks posttreatment using validated instruments.

RESULTS

Of 94 patients, 35 underwent LNC and 59 underwent RFA [36 with focal radiofrequency ablation (RFA-F) and 23 with circumferential radiofrequency ablation (RFA-C)]. Immediately posttreatment, patients in the LNC group reported an average Numeric Pain Scale score that was lower than in the RFA groups [LNC 0.41 vs. RFA-F 1.18 (P=0.026), LNC 0.41 vs. RFA-C 1.38 (P=0.010)]. These differences persisted at 48 hours posttreatment [LNC 0.76 vs. RFA-F 1.77 (P=0.013), LNC 0.76 vs. RFA-C 1.73 (P=0.018)]. The odds of pain after RFA were at least 5 times greater than after LNC [immediately posttreatment odds ratio, 5.26 (95% confidence interval, 1.85-14.29) and 48 h posttreatment odds ratio, 5.56 (95% confidence interval, 2.27-14.29)]. There was no difference in dysphagia after treatment in either group, at any time point (P=0.429).

CONCLUSION

LNC was associated with less postprocedural pain when compared with RFA. These results help inform patients and physicians about the expected symptoms after ablative endotherapy.

Mucosal Ablation Techniques for Barrett's Esophagus and Early Esophageal Cancer

Patients with esophageal intestinal metaplasia, or Barrett's esophagus, may undergo dysplastic changes that eventually lead to invasive adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic therapy in the form of radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation has been described as a minimally invasive intervention to halt this sequence of dysplasia to carcinoma. Studies demonstrate that the use of radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation is highly successful at eradicating intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia and reducing the risk of disease progression. Furthermore, these modalities also may be used in combination with endoscopic mucosal resection, or as stand-alone therapy, for the treatment of intramucosal carcinoma, potentially circumventing the need for surgery.

Impact of Barrett's esophagus surveillance on the prognosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Whether endoscopic surveillance would improve the outcomes of esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients previously diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the survival advantages of endoscopic surveillance for patients with Barrett's esophagus.

METHODS

Databases including PubMed, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were examined systematically from their inception to July 2017, for articles related to the survival outcomes of esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with Barrett's esophagus under endoscopic surveillance. Adjusted hazard estimates were adopted to determine overall results with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using the fixed-effect model. We conducted subgroup and sensitivity analyses using the "metan" command in Stata software to assess the stability of the overall results. Begg's test, Egger's test and the funnel plot were used to evaluate the presence of publication bias.

RESULTS

A total of eight studies (two case-control and six cohort studies) were finally included in our current study. Compared with patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma that was not detected by surveillance, a significant 29% reduction in mortality from esophageal adenocarcinoma was observed among patients under endoscopic surveillance (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.71, 95% CI 0.66-0.77). This effect was presented in both the USA (adjusted HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.65-0.78) and Europe (adjusted HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.60-0.83). We found no evidence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis supports the concept that endoscopic surveillance for patients with Barrett's esophagus could improve the prognosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma. More well-designed prospective studies are needed to confirm this association.

Clutch cutter is a safe device for performing endoscopic submucosal dissection of superficial esophageal neoplasms: a western experience

Although the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been established to be more efficacious in the treatment of superficial gastrointestinal neoplasia than the piecemeal resection, its use is still limited due to the concern about serious adverse events particularly in the west. Newer ESD knives have been developed that have been said to be safer than the first-generation devices. We aimed to report a Western single center experience regarding the initial safety and performance of ESD for superficial esophageal neoplasia treated with the Clutch Cutter (DP2618DT; Fujifilm Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). Our main outcome was safety in terms of bleeding or perforation. Secondary outcomes included en bloc resection and the R0 resection. Fourteen patients with superficial esophageal neoplasia underwent 15 ESDs using the Clutch Cutter. The mean age was 65 ± 16.7 years and 10 (71.4%) males. Eight (57%) patients had esophageal adenocarcinoma, 3 (21.4%) had high-grade dysplasia, 1 (7%) had nodular low-grade dysplasia, and 2 (14.3%) had squamous cell carcinoma. Mild anticipated intraprocedural bleeding was present with most procedures. However, no significant postoperative bleeding or perforation was encountered. One patient had mild chest pain postprocedure. En bloc resection was achieved in all lesions 100%. Histological R0 was achieved in 5/12 lesions (41.6%). The mean length of the resected area was 24.8 ± 13 mm (IQR: 17-30 mm). All patients were safely discharged home after overnight observation. In conclusion, this is the largest series of esophageal ESD using the multimodal Clutch Cutter in the United States; we found that the device effectively achieved en bloc resection of superficial esophageal neoplasia without significant adverse events. The use of the Clutch Cutter should be considered as one option to minimize adverse events during ESD in the Western population.

Mucosal Ablation in Patients with Barrett's Esophagus: Fry or Freeze?

The management of Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal adenocarcinoma has shifted away from esophagectomy and toward endoscopic techniques, including endoscopic resection and ablative therapies. The most commonly used ablative therapies are radiofrequency ablation and cryotherapy. Radiofrequency ablation has risen to the top of the management algorithm due to its favorable safety profile and established track record of efficacy in patients with dysplastic Barrett's. Cryotherapy offers early promise as an alternatively safe and effective ablative modality. We review radiofrequency ablation and cryotherapy techniques, and updated data regarding their efficacy and safety as well as their roles in the management of Barrett's esophagus.

Natural History of the Post-ablation Esophagus

Endoscopic ablative therapy including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represents the preferred management strategy for dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) and appears to diminish the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Limited data describe the natural history of the post-ablation esophagus. Recent findings demonstrate that recurrent intestinal metaplasia (IM) following RFA is relatively frequent. However, dysplastic BE and EAC subsequent to the complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CEIM) are uncommon. Moreover, data suggest that the risk of recurrent disease is probably highest in the first year following CEIM. Recurrent IM and dysplasia are usually successfully eradicated with repeat RFA. Future studies may refine surveillance intervals and inform the length of time surveillance should be conducted following RFA with CEIM. Further data will also be necessary to understand the utility of chemopreventive strategies, including NSAIDs, in reducing the risk of recurrent disease.

Biomarkers of Barrett's Esophagus: From the Laboratory to Clinical Practice

The currently recommended approach to managing cancer risk for patients with Barrett's esophagus is endoscopic surveillance including a biopsy protocol to sample the esophageal tissue randomly to detect dysplasia. However, there are numerous limitations in this practice that rely on the histopathological grading of dysplasia alone to make clinical decisions. The availability of in silico models demonstrating the potential cost-effectiveness of biomarker-based stratification has increased interest in finding a clinically relevant "Barrett's biomarker." The success of endoscopic eradication therapy in preventing neoplastic progression of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus has promoted the desire to stratify non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus to those with "high risk" that may benefit from endotherapy. Furthermore, on the other end of the spectrum, there is interest in searching for a "low risk" marker that may identify those that would not likely benefit from endoscopy screening or surveillance. This review highlights recent data from the genomics (r)evolution revealing new genetic biomarkers of susceptibility to the development of Barrett's esophagus and novel pathways for its neoplastic progression, addresses the development of new modes of tissue sampling and imaging to detect early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus, and discusses current progress in moving biomarkers from the laboratory into clinical practice in the era of precision medicine.

Endoscopic therapy for Barrett's high grade dysplasia and intramucosal esophageal cancer is effective in community clinical practice by advanced endoscopists following multidisciplinary approach

Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia (BEHGD) and intramucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma (IMC) can be treated by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Efficacy of RFA and EMR in academic medical centers has been demonstrated in previous studies. However, the clinical effectiveness of this approach in community clinical practice is not fully established.All patients with biopsy-proven BEHGD and IMC (T1a), who were treated endoscopically between 2007 and 2014, were prospectively enrolled. Treatment algorithms were determined by consensus opinion after presentation at gastrointestinal tumor board. Patients underwent EMR and/or RFA until eradication-of-dysplasia and complete remission of intestinal metaplasia (CRIM) was achieved. Patients were then enrolled in an endoscopic surveillance program.A total of 60 patients underwent endoscopic therapy for BEHGD (32) or IMC (28). Median length BE was 4 cm. Forty-six patients had EMR. Median treatment interval was nine months. Median follow-up was 33 months (Interquartile range: 16-50). Fifty-five (92%) patients achieved eradication-of-dysplasia and 52(87%) CRIM. One patient with BEHGD did not achieve any benefit six months into treatment. Nine (15%) patients relapsed after CRIM with nondysplastic-BE (6), BE with low-grade dysplasia (1), and BEHGD (2). After retreatment, eradication-of-intestinal metaplasia was achieved in five patients. BE length was a negative predictor for achieving CRIM (OR 0.81; P = 0.04). There were no procedure-related severe complications. Eleven patients with prior EMR developed symptomatic strictures, which were all successfully dilated.Endoscopic management of BEHGD and IMC can be safely and effectively performed in a community clinical practice similarly to high-volume academic medical centers when performed by advanced endoscopists following multidisciplinary approach.

Ablation Therapy for Barrett's Esophagus: New Rules for Changing Times

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this review, we discuss different endoscopic techniques in the eradication of Barrett's esophagus (BE) as well as some controversies in the field of treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patients with T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma and BE of high-grade dysplasia should undergo endoscopic ablative therapy. The most studied technique to date is radiofrequency ablation. It can be combined with endoscopic mucosal resection in cases containing nodular and flat lesions. Cryotherapy and APC have shown promise with good efficacy and safety profiles so far, but are not mainstream as more studies are needed. Surveillance is still required post-ablation since recurrence is common. Low-grade dysplasia can be treated with either endo-ablative therapy or surveillance. Non-dysplastic BE treatment is controversial and so far, only surveillance is recommended. Research is ongoing to better risk stratify these patients. Our ability to diagnose and treat BE has come a long way in the past few years with the goal of preventing its progression into malignancy. The advent of endoscopic techniques in the eradication of BE has provided a less invasive and safer modality of treatment as compared to surgical esophagectomy. Data in the form of randomized trials and high-volume registries has provided good evidence to support the efficacy of these techniques and their long-term durability.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Barrett's Esophagus: Efficacy, Complications, and Durability

In the last decade, radiofrequency ablation in combination with endoscopic mucosal resection has simplified and improved the treatment of Barrett's esophagus. These treatments not only reduced the progression of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma but also decreased treatment-related complications. More recent data from larger series with extended follow-up periods are emerging to refine expectations in patients treated with radiofrequency ablation. Although most patients achieve eradication of neoplasia and intestinal metaplasia, in the long-term a substantial portion of patients develop recurrent disease. This article provides an updated review of radiofrequency ablation efficacy, complications, and durability.

A trial of radiofrequency ablation for anal intraepithelial neoplasia

PURPOSE

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) effectively treats esophageal high-grade dysplasia, but its efficacy in treating anal canal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) is unsubstantiated. This prospective study assessed the safety and efficacy of applying hemi-circumferential RFA to anal canal HSIL.

METHODS

Twenty-one HIV-negative participants with HSIL occupying ≤ half the anal canal circumference were treated with hemi-circumferential anal canal RFA. Participants were assessed every 3 months for 12 months with high-resolution anoscopy; recurrence in the treatment zone was re-treated with focal RFA.

RESULTS

Twenty-one participants with a mean of 1.7 lesions (range 1-4) enrolled and completed the trial. Six (29 %) participants had recurrent HSIL within the treated hemi-circumference within 1 year. Four participants (19 %) had persistence of an index lesion at 3 months. One (2.9 %) index HSIL persisted again at 12 months. No participants had more than two RFA treatments. KM curve-predicted HSIL-free survival within the treatment zone at 1 year was 76 % (95 % CI 52-89 %). Comparing the first 7 and last 14 participants, the predicted 1-year HSIL-free survivals are 43 % (95 % CI 10-73 %) and 93 % (95 % CI 59-99 %), respectively (p = 0.008), suggesting a learning curve with the treating physician. Multivariable analysis showed decreased recurrence in the last 14 participants (HR 0.02; 95 % CI 0.001-0.63) while increasing BMI increased recurrence (HR 1.43, 95 % CI 1.01-2.01). No participants had device or procedure-related serious adverse events, anal stricture, or heavy bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemi-circumferential RFA yielded a high rate of anal HSIL eradication in HIV-negative patients at 1 year with minimal adverse events. Lesion persistence was probably related to incomplete initial ablation.

A Tissue Systems Pathology Test Detects Abnormalities Associated with Prevalent High-Grade Dysplasia and Esophageal Cancer in Barrett's Esophagus

BACKGROUND

There is a need for improved tools to detect high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in patients with Barrett's esophagus. In previous work, we demonstrated that a 3-tier classifier predicted risk of incident progression in Barrett's esophagus. Our aim was to determine whether this risk classifier could detect a field effect in nondysplastic (ND), indefinite for dysplasia (IND), or low-grade dysplasia (LGD) biopsies from Barrett's esophagus patients with prevalent HGD/EAC.

METHODS

We performed a multi-institutional case-control study to evaluate a previously developed risk classifier that is based upon quantitative image features derived from 9 biomarkers and morphology, and predicts risk for HGD/EAC in Barrett's esophagus patients. The risk classifier was evaluated in ND, IND, and LGD biopsies from Barrett's esophagus patients diagnosed with HGD/EAC on repeat endoscopy (prevalent cases, n = 30, median time to HGD/EAC diagnosis 140.5 days) and nonprogressors (controls, n = 145, median HGD/EAC-free surveillance time 2,015 days).

RESULTS

The risk classifier stratified prevalent cases and non-progressor patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk classes [OR, 46.0; 95% confidence interval, 14.86-169 (high-risk vs. low-risk); P < 0.0001]. The classifier also provided independent prognostic information that outperformed the subspecialist and generalist diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

A tissue systems pathology test better predicts prevalent HGD/EAC in Barrett's esophagus patients than pathologic variables. The results indicate that molecular and cellular changes associated with malignant transformation in Barrett's esophagus may be detectable as a field effect using the test.

IMPACT

A tissue systems pathology test may provide an objective method to facilitate earlier identification of Barrett's esophagus patients requiring therapeutic intervention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(2); 240-8. ©2016 AACR.

Current Endoscopic Approaches for the Treatment of Barrett Esophagus

Barrett esophagus (BE) is the only identifiable premalignant condition for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a cancer associated with a poor 5-year survival rate. The stepwise pathologic progression of BE to invasive cancer provides an opportunity to halt progression and potentially decrease incidence and ultimately the morbidity and mortality related to this lethal cancer. Endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) in patients at increased risk of progression to invasive EAC (intramucosal EAC, high-grade dysplasia, and low-grade dysplasia) is a practice that is endorsed by multiple societies and has replaced esophagectomy as the standard of care for these patients. Although the effectiveness, safety, and durability of EET have been demonstrated in several studies, this review addresses the several challenges with EET that need to be considered to optimize patient outcomes. Finally, the critical role of training, competence, and quality indicators in EET are emphasized in this era of value-based health care practice.

Outcomes of Radiofrequency Ablation for Dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus: A Comprehensive Review

Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the normal squamous lining of the esophagus has been replaced by columnar epithelium containing intestinal metaplasia induced by recurrent mucosal injury related to gastroesophageal reflux disease. Barrett's esophagus is a premalignant condition that can progress through a dysplasia-carcinoma sequence to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Multiple endoscopic ablative techniques have been developed with the goal of eradicating Barrett's esophagus and preventing neoplastic progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma. For patients with high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal neoplasia, radiofrequency ablation with or without endoscopic resection for visible lesions is currently the most effective and safe treatment available. Recent data demonstrate that, in patients with Barrett's esophagus and low-grade dysplasia confirmed by a second pathologist, ablative therapy results in a statistically significant reduction in progression to high-grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Treatment of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus with radiofrequency ablation results in complete eradication of both dysplasia and of intestinal metaplasia in a high proportion of patients with a low incidence of adverse events. A high proportion of treated patients maintain the neosquamous epithelium after successful treatment without recurrence of intestinal metaplasia. Following successful endoscopic treatment, endoscopic surveillance should be continued to detect any recurrent intestinal metaplasia and/or dysplasia. This paper reviews all relevant publications on the endoscopic management of Barrett's esophagus using radiofrequency ablation.

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for Barrett's Esophagus

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is an increasingly popular minimally invasive technique that is used for the management of superficial lesions in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. The goal of this article is to describe the indications and technique of EMR, with a focus on the endoscopic management of Barrett's esophagus (BE). The two major EMR techniques-cap EMR and band EMR-will be presented, along with a discussion of their efficacy as well as their integration into the broader treatment paradigm of endoscopic eradication therapy for BE.

Non-radical, stepwise complete endoscopic resection of Barrett's epithelium in short segment Barrett's esophagus has a low stricture rate

Background and aims: Radical endoscopic excision of Barrett's epithelium performing 4 - 6 endoscopic resections during the same endoscopic session results in complete Barrett's eradication but has a high stricture rate (40 - 80 %). Therefore radiofrequency ablation is preferred after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of visible nodules. We investigated the clinical outcome of non-radical, stepwise endoscopic mucosal resection with a maximum of two endoscopic resections per endoscopic session. Methods: We analysed our prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing esophageal EMR for early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus from 2009 to 2014. EMR was performed using a maximum of two band ligation mucosectomies per endoscopic session; thereafter, follow-up was 3-monthly and EMR was repeated as required for Barrett's eradication. Results: In total, 118 patients underwent staging EMR for early Barrett's neoplasia. Subsequently, 27 patients underwent surgery/chemotherapy due to deep submucosal or more advanced tumor stages or were managed conservatively. The remaining 91 patients with high grade dysplasia (48), intramucosal (38) or submucosal cancer (5) in the resected nodule underwent further endoscopic therapy with a mean follow-up of 24 months. Remission of dysplasia/neoplasia was achieved in 95.6 % after 12 months treatment. Stepwise endoscopic Barrett's resection resulted in complete Barrett's eradication in 36/91 patients (39.6 %) in a mean of four sessions; 40/91 patients (44.0 %) had a short circumferential Barrett's segment (< 3 cm). In this group, repeated EMR achieved complete Barrett's excision in 85.0 %. One patient developed a stricture (1.1 %), one a delayed bleeding, and there were no perforations. Conclusion: In patients with a short Barrett's segment, non-radical endoscopic Barrett's resection at the time of scheduled endoscopy follow-up allows complete Barrett's eradication with very low stricture rate.

Adverse Events After Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with or without endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is routinely used for treatment of Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia. Despite the relative safety of this method, there have been imprecise estimates of the rate of adverse events. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the rate of adverse events associated with RFA with and without EMR.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central through October 22, 2014. The primary outcome of interest was the overall rate of adverse events after RFA with or without EMR. We used forest plots to contrast effect sizes among studies.

RESULTS

Of 1521 articles assessed, 37 met our inclusion criteria (comprising 9200 patients). The pooled rate of all adverse events from RFA with or without EMR was 8.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5%-11.9%); 5.6% of patients developed strictures (95% CI, 4.2%-7.4%), 1% had bleeding (95% CI, 0.8%-1.3%), and 0.6% developed a perforation (95% CI, 0.4%-0.9%). In studies that compared RFA with vs without EMR, the relative risk for adverse events was significantly higher for RFA with EMR (4.4) (P = .015). There was a trend toward higher proportions of adverse events in prospective studies compared with retrospective studies (11.3% vs 7.8%, P = .20). Other factors associated with adverse events included Barrett's esophagus and length and baseline histology.

CONCLUSIONS

In a systematic review and meta-analysis, we found the relative risk for adverse events from RFA to be about 4-fold higher with EMR than without; we identified factors associated with these events. Endoscopists should discuss these risks with patients before endoscopic eradication therapy.

Recurrent intestinal metaplasia at the gastroesophageal junction following endoscopic eradication of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus may not be benign

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is effective for eradicating dysplastic Barrett's esophagus. The durability of response is reported to be variable. We aimed to determine the effectiveness and durability of RFA with or without EMR for patients with dysplastic Barrett's esophagus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with dysplastic Barrett's esophagus referred to two academic hospitals were assessed with high definition white-light endoscopy, narrow-band imaging, and Seattle protocol biopsies. EMR was performed in visible lesions. RFA was performed at 3-month intervals until complete remission of dysplasia (CR-D) and intestinal metaplasia (CR-IM) was achieved.

RESULTS

In total, 137 patients received RFA (78 with EMR); 75 with over 12 months follow-up since commencing RFA. Pretreatment histology was intramucosal cancer (IMC) 21 %, high grade dysplasia (HGD) 54 %, low grade dysplasia (LGD) 25 %. CR-D rates were 88 %, 92 %, and 100 % at 1, 2, and 3 years; CR-IM rates were 69 %, 74 %, and 81 %. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed increasing probability of achieving CR-D/CR-IM over time. Of 26 patients maintaining CR-IM for > 12 months, five relapsed with intestinal metaplasia (19 %), and three with dysplasia (12 %). Recurrences occurred in patients with prior HGD/IMC, predominantly at the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). None relapsed with cancer. Adverse events occurred in 4 % of RFA and 6.5 % of EMR procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

RFA combined with EMR is effective in achieving CR-D/CR-IM in the majority of patients with dysplastic Barrett's esophagus, with an incremental response over time. While durable in the majority, recurrent intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia, frequently occurring at the GEJ, suggest long-term surveillance is warranted in high risk groups.

Comparative Effectiveness of Esophagectomy Versus Endoscopic Treatment for Esophageal High-grade Dysplasia

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to determine the comparative effectiveness of esophagectomy versus endoscopic mucosal resection followed by radiofrequency ablation (EMR-RFA) for the treatment of Barrett esophagus with high-grade dysplasia (HGD).

BACKGROUND

HGD of the esophagus may be managed by surgical resection or EMR-RFA. National guidelines suggest that EMR-RFA is effective at eradicating HGD. The comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of EMR-RFA versus esophagectomy for HGD remains unclear.

METHODS

A decision-analysis model was constructed to represent 3 management strategies for HGD: (1) esophagectomy, (2) EMR-RFA, and (3) endoscopic surveillance. Estimates for model variables were obtained from literature review, and costs were estimated from Medicare fee schedules. Costs and utilities were discounted at an annual rate of 3%. The baseline model was adjusted for alternative age groups and high-risk dysplastic variants. One-way and multivariable probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

For a 65-year-old patient, compared to esophagectomy, EMR-RFA yields equivalent utility (11.5 vs 11.4 discounted quality-adjusted life years) with lower total cost ($52.5K vs $74.3K) over the first 20 years. Dominance of EMR-RFA over esophagectomy persists for all age groups. Patients with diffuse or ulcerated HGD are more effectively treated with esophagectomy. Model outcomes are sensitive to estimated rates of disease progression and postintervention utility parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Existing evidence supports EMR-RFA over esophagectomy for the treatment of esophageal HGD. Long-term outcomes and more definitive quality-of-life studies for both interventions are crucial to better inform decision-making.

A Tissue Systems Pathology Assay for High-Risk Barrett's Esophagus

BACKGROUND

Better methods are needed to predict risk of progression for Barrett's esophagus. We aimed to determine whether a tissue systems pathology approach could predict progression in patients with nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus, indefinite for dysplasia, or low-grade dysplasia.

METHODS

We performed a nested case-control study to develop and validate a test that predicts progression of Barrett's esophagus to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), based upon quantification of epithelial and stromal variables in baseline biopsies. Data were collected from Barrett's esophagus patients at four institutions. Patients who progressed to HGD or EAC in ≥1 year (n = 79) were matched with patients who did not progress (n = 287). Biopsies were assigned randomly to training or validation sets. Immunofluorescence analyses were performed for 14 biomarkers and quantitative biomarker and morphometric features were analyzed. Prognostic features were selected in the training set and combined into classifiers. The top-performing classifier was assessed in the validation set.

RESULTS

A 3-tier, 15-feature classifier was selected in the training set and tested in the validation set. The classifier stratified patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk classes [HR, 9.42; 95% confidence interval, 4.6-19.24 (high-risk vs. low-risk); P < 0.0001]. It also provided independent prognostic information that outperformed predictions based on pathology analysis, segment length, age, sex, or p53 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

We developed a tissue systems pathology test that better predicts risk of progression in Barrett's esophagus than clinicopathologic variables.

IMPACT

The test has the potential to improve upon histologic analysis as an objective method to risk stratify Barrett's esophagus patients. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(6); 958-68. ©2016 AACR.

Barrett’s esophagus in 2016: From pathophysiology to treatment

Esophageal complications caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include reflux esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus (BE). BE is a premalignant condition with an increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The carcinogenic sequence may progress through several steps, from normal esophageal mucosa through BE to EAC. A recent advent of functional esophageal testing (particularly multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring) has helped to improve our knowledge about GERD pathophysiology, including its complications. Those findings (when properly confirmed) might help to predict BE neoplastic progression. Over the last few decades, the incidence of EAC has continued to rise in Western populations. However, only a minority of BE patients develop EAC, opening the debate regarding the cost-effectiveness of current screening/surveillance strategies. Thus, major efforts in clinical and research practice are focused on new methods for optimal risk assessment that can stratify BE patients at low or high risk of developing EAC, which should improve the cost effectiveness of screening/surveillance programs and consequently significantly affect health-care costs. Furthermore, the area of BE therapeutic management is rapidly evolving. Endoscopic eradication therapies have been shown to be effective, and new therapeutic options for BE and EAC have emerged. The aim of the present review article is to highlight the status of screening/surveillance programs and the current progress of BE therapy. Moreover, we discuss the recent introduction of novel esophageal pathophysiological exams that have improved the knowledge of the mechanisms linking GERD to BE.

Endoscopic ablation is a cost-effective cancer preventative therapy in patients with Barrett's esophagus who have elevated genomic instability

BACKGROUND

The surveillance of patients with nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE) has a high cost and is of limited effectiveness in preventing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Ablation for NDBE remains expensive and controversial. Biomarkers of genomic instability have shown promise in identifying patients with NDBE at high risk for progression to EAC. Here, we evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using such biomarkers to stratify patients with NDBE by risk for EAC and, subsequently, the cost-effectiveness of ablative therapy.

METHODS

A Markov decision tree was used to evaluate four strategies in a hypothetical cohort of 50-year old patients with NDBE over their lifetime: strategy I, natural history without surveillance; strategy II, surveillance per current guidelines; strategy III, ablation for all patients; strategy IV, risk stratification with use of a biomarker panel to assess genomic instability (i. e., mutational load [ML]). Patients with no ML underwent minimal surveillance, patients with low ML underwent standard surveillance, and patients with high ML underwent ablation. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and incremental net health benefit (INHB) were assessed.

RESULTS

Strategy IV provided the best values for quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), ICER, and INHB in comparison with strategies II and III. RESULTS were robust in sensitivity analysis. In a Monte Carlo analysis, the relative risk for the development of cancer in the patients managed with strategy IV was decreased. Critical determinants of strategy IV cost-effectiveness were the complete response rate, cost of ablation, and surveillance interval in patients with no ML.

CONCLUSION

The use of ML to stratify patients with NDBE by risk was the most cost-effective strategy for preventive EAC treatment. Targeting ablation toward patients with high ML presents an opportunity for a paradigm shift in the management of NDBE.

Endoscopic Therapy of Early Carcinoma of the Oesophagus

Background

Oesophageal cancer is a comparatively rare disease in the Western world. Prognosis is highly dependent on the choice of treatment. Early stages can be treated by endoscopic resection, whereas surgery needs to be performed in the case of advanced carcinomas. Technical progress has enabled high-definition endoscopes and technical add-ons which help the endoscopist in finding fine irregularities in the oesophageal mucosa, though interpretation still remains challenging.

Methods

In this review, we discuss both novel and old diagnostic procedures and their value, as well as the current recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of early oesophageal carcinomas. The database of PubMed and Medline was searched and analysed to provide all relevant literature for this review.

Results and Conclusion

Endoscopic resection is the therapy of choice in early oesophageal cancer. In case of adenocarcinoma it is mandatory to perform subsequent ablation of all residual Barrett's mucosa to avoid metachronous lesions.