Photodynamic therapy with curative intent for Barrett's esophagus with high grade dysplasia and superficial esophageal cancer

Associations between Lifestyle Habits, Perceived Symptoms and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients Seeking Health Check-Ups

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common diseases. It mainly causes the stomach contents to flow back to the esophagus, thereby stimulating the esophagus and causing discomfort. From the results of our research, we intend to provide the general public with information related to preventing gastroesophageal reflux disease and medical personnel with information on the treatment and care of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. This study aimed to investigate the association of lifestyle habits and perceived symptoms on GERD in patients who underwent routine health check-ups. This study was conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional design to collect GERD cases from the medical records containing the health questionnaires and the report of endoscopic findings on the day of the health check-up. A total of 5653 patients were enrolled between 1 January 2016, and 31 December 2018. About 60.2% (n = 3404) of patients with GERD were diagnosed based on endoscopic findings. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors of the development of GERD. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, sex, waist circumference, Areca catechu chewing habit, sleep disorders, otolaryngology symptoms, and hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly associated with GERD. In this study, our results can be used as a reference for public health care and clinicians. Because most GERD cases can be controlled and prevented by lifestyle modifications, health professionals should always obtain a detailed history regarding symptoms and lifestyle habits associated with GERD.

Surgery versus radical endotherapies for early cancer and high-grade dysplasia in Barrett's oesophagus

BACKGROUND

Barrett's oesophagus is one of the most common pre-malignant lesions in the world. Currently the mainstay of therapy is surgical management of advanced cancer but this has improved the five-year survival very little since the 1980s. As a consequence, improved survival relies on early detection through endoscopic surveillance programmes. Success of this strategy relies on the fact that late-stage pre-malignant lesions or very early cancers can be cured by intervention. Currently there is considerable controversy over which method is best: that is conventional open surgery or endotherapy (techniques involving endoscopy).

OBJECTIVES

We used data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to examine the effectiveness of endotherapies compared with surgery in people with Barrett's oesophagus, those with early neoplasias (defined as high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and those with early cancer (defined as carcinoma in-situ, superficially invasive, early cancer or superficial cancer T-1m (T1-a) and T-1sm (T1-b)).

SEARCH METHODS

We used the Cochrane highly sensitive search strategy to identify RCTs in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ISI Web of Science, EBMR, Controlled Trials mRCT and ISRCTN, and LILACS, in July and August 2008. The searches were updated in 2009 and again in April 2012.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Types of studies: RCTs comparing endotherapies with surgery in the treatment of high-grade dysplasia or early cancer. All cellular types of cancer were included (i.e. adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and more unusual types) but will be discussed separately.

TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

patients of any age and either gender with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of early neoplasia (HGD and early cancer) in Barrett's or squamous lined oesophagus. Types of interventions; endotherapies (the intervention) compared with surgery (the control), all with curative intent.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Reports of studies that meet the inclusion criteria for this review would have been analysed using the methods detailed in Appendix 9.

MAIN RESULTS

We did not identify any studies that met the inclusion criteria. In total we excluded 13 studies that were not RCTs but that compared surgery and endotherapies.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This Cochrane review has indicated that there are no RCTs to compare management options in this vital area, therefore trials should be undertaken as a matter of urgency. The problems with such randomised methods are standardising surgery and endotherapies in all sites, standardising histopathology in all centres, assessing which patients are fit or unfit for surgery and making sure there are relevant outcomes for the study (i.e. long-term survival (over five or more years)) and no progression of HGD.

Oncologic Photodynamic Therapy: Basic Principles, Current Clinical Status and Future Directions

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved cancer therapy, based on a photochemical reaction between a light activatable molecule or photosensitizer, light, and molecular oxygen. When these three harmless components are present together, reactive oxygen species are formed. These can directly damage cells and/or vasculature, and induce inflammatory and immune responses. PDT is a two-stage procedure, which starts with photosensitizer administration followed by a locally directed light exposure, with the aim of confined tumor destruction. Since its regulatory approval, over 30 years ago, PDT has been the subject of numerous studies and has proven to be an effective form of cancer therapy. This review provides an overview of the clinical trials conducted over the last 10 years, illustrating how PDT is applied in the clinic today. Furthermore, examples from ongoing clinical trials and the most recent preclinical studies are presented, to show the directions, in which PDT is headed, in the near and distant future. Despite the clinical success reported, PDT is still currently underutilized in the clinic. We also discuss the factors that hamper the exploration of this effective therapy and what should be changed to render it a more effective and more widely available option for patients.

The potential of photodynamic therapy (PDT)-Experimental investigations and clinical use

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an intensively studied part of medicine based on free radicals. These reactive species, extremely harmful for whole human organism, are used for eradication numerous diseases. Specific structure of ill tissues causes accumulation free radicals inside them without attack remaining healthy tissues. A rapid development of medicine and scientific research has led to extension of PDT towards treatment many diseases such as cancer, herpes, acne and based on antimicrobials. The presented review article is focused on the aforementioned disorders with accurate analysis of the newest available scientific achievements. The discussed cases explicitly indicate on high efficacy of the therapy. In most cases, free radicals turned out to be solution of many afflictions. Photodynamic therapy can be considered as promising treatment with comparable effectiveness but without side effects characteristic for chemotherapy.

Regenerative Medicine Strategies for Esophageal Repair

Pathologies that involve the structure and/or function of the esophagus can be life-threatening. The esophagus is a complex organ comprising nonredundant tissue that does not have the ability to regenerate. Currently available interventions for esophageal pathology have limited success and are typically associated with significant morbidity. Hence, there is currently an unmet clinical need for effective methods of esophageal repair. The present article presents a review of esophageal disease along with the anatomic and functional consequences of each pathologic process, the shortcomings associated with currently available therapies, and the latest advancements in the field of regenerative medicine with respect to strategies for esophageal repair from benchtop to bedside.

MicroRNA signature characterizes primary tumors that metastasize in an esophageal adenocarcinoma rat model

Objective

To establish a miRNA signature for metastasis in an animal model of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

Background

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has dramatically increased and esophageal cancer is now the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Mortality rates remain high among patients with advanced stage disease and esophagectomy is associated with high complication rates. Hence, early identification of potentially metastatic disease would better guide treatment strategies.

Methods

The modified Levrat’s surgery was performed to induce EAC in Sprague-Dawley rats. Primary EAC and distant metastatic sites were confirmed via histology and immunofluorescence. miRNA profiling was performed on primary tumors with or without metastasis. A unique subset of miRNAs expressed in primary tumors and metastases was identified with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) along with upstream and downstream targets. miRNA-linked gene expression analysis was performed on a secondary cohort of metastasis positive (n=5) and metastasis negative (n=28) primary tumors.

Results

The epithelial origin of distant metastasis was established by IF using villin (VIL1) and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) antibodies. miRNome analysis identified four down-regulated miRNAs in metastasis positive primary tumors compared to metastasis negative tumors: miR-92a-3p (p=0.0001), miR-141-3p (p=0.0022), miR-451-1a (p=0.0181) and miR133a-3p (p=0.0304). Six target genes identified in the top scoring networks by IPA were validated as significantly, differentially expressed in metastasis positive primary tumors: Ago2, Akt1, Kras, Bcl2L11, CDKN1B and Zeb2.

Conclusion

In vivo metastasis was confirmed in the modified Levrat’s model. Analysis of the primary tumor identified a distinctive miRNA signature for primary tumors that metastasized.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the diagnosis and management of Barrett's oesophagus

These guidelines provide a practical and evidence-based resource for the management of patients with Barrett's oesophagus and related early neoplasia. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument was followed to provide a methodological strategy for the guideline development. A systematic review of the literature was performed for English language articles published up until December 2012 in order to address controversial issues in Barrett's oesophagus including definition, screening and diagnosis, surveillance, pathological grading for dysplasia, management of dysplasia, and early cancer including training requirements. The rigour and quality of the studies was evaluated using the SIGN checklist system. Recommendations on each topic were scored by each author using a five-tier system (A+, strong agreement, to D+, strongly disagree). Statements that failed to reach substantial agreement among authors, defined as >80% agreement (A or A+), were revisited and modified until substantial agreement (>80%) was reached. In formulating these guidelines, we took into consideration benefits and risks for the population and national health system, as well as patient perspectives. For the first time, we have suggested stratification of patients according to their estimated cancer risk based on clinical and histopathological criteria. In order to improve communication between clinicians, we recommend the use of minimum datasets for reporting endoscopic and pathological findings. We advocate endoscopic therapy for high-grade dysplasia and early cancer, which should be performed in high-volume centres. We hope that these guidelines will standardise and improve management for patients with Barrett's oesophagus and related neoplasia.

Advances in endoluminal therapy for esophageal cancer

Advances in endoscopic therapy have resulted in dramatic changes in the way early esophageal cancer is managed as well as in the palliation of dysphagia related to advanced esophageal cancer. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are effective therapies for accurate histopathologic staging and provide a potential for complete cure. Mucosal ablative techniques (radiofrequency ablation and cryotherapy) are effective adjuncts to EMR and ESD and reduce the occurrence of synchronous and metachronous lesions within the Barrett esophagus. The successes of these techniques have made endoscopic therapy the primary means of management of early esophageal cancer.

Esophagus and regenerative medicine

In addition to squamous cell carcinoma, the incidence of Barrett’s esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma is rapidly increasing worldwide. Unfortunately, the current standard of care for esophageal pathology involves resection of the affected tissue, sometimes involving radical esophagectomy. Without exception, these procedures are associated with a high morbidity, compromised quality of life, and unacceptable mortality rates. Regenerative medicine approaches to functional tissue replacement include the use of biological and synthetic scaffolds to promote tissue remodeling and growth. In the case of esophageal repair, extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds have proven to be effective for the reconstruction of small patch defects, anastomosis reinforcement, and the prevention of stricture formation after endomucosal resection (EMR). More so, esophageal cancer patients treated with ECM scaffolds have shown complete restoration of a normal, functional, and disease-free epithelium after EMR. These studies provide evidence that a regenerative medicine approach may enable aggressive resection of neoplastic tissue without the need for radical esophagectomy and its associated complications.

Photodynamic therapy in the management of potentially malignant and malignant oral disorders

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally-invasive surgical tool successfully targeting premalignant and malignant disorders in the head and neck, gastrointestinal tract, lungs and skin with greatly reduced morbidity and disfigurement. The technique is simple, can commonly be carried out in outpatient clinics, and is highly acceptable to patients. The role of photodynamic therapy in the management of oral potentially malignant disorders and early oral cancer is being discussed.

Comparison of COX-2, Ki-67, and BCL-2 expression in normal esophageal mucosa, Barrett's esophagus, dysplasia, and adenocarcinoma with postablation mucosa and implications for ablative therapies

BACKGROUND

The neosquamous mucosa that replaces ablated esophageal endothelium after endoscopic mucosal ablation for Barrett's metaplasia or high-grade dysplasia (HGD) may retain buried glandular tissue. This study aimed to assess the neoplastic potential, cellular proliferation, and resistance to apoptosis of this buried glandular tissue by measuring COX-2, Ki-67, and BCL-2 expression in these tissues.

METHODS

A prospectively collected database was sourced for esophageal biopsy specimens with normal histologic appearance, Barrett's metaplasia, HGD, adenocarcinoma, and postablation mucosa comprising ablated Barrett's and ablated HGD. Quantitative analysis of cellular markers was achieved immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies for the COX-2 enzyme (suggesting increased neoplastic potential), Ki-67 antigen (suggesting cellular proliferation), and BCL-2 oncoprotein (suggesting oncogenic resistance to apoptosis). Grading was performed by independent, blinded observers, and the pre- and postablation cellular disparities were subsequently noted.

RESULTS

The buried glandular elements of postablation mucosa demonstrated universally greater COX-2, Ki-67, and BCL-2 expression than normal esophagus. Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma expressed significantly greater COX-2 and Ki-67 at the deep glandular level than postablation mucosa. HGD demonstrated greater Ki-67 expression than the postablation tissue but only within the superficial glands. Overall, the expression of COX-2 correlated significantly with Ki-67 expression in deep glandular tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Ablation of pathologic mucosa in Barrett's esophagus and HGD reduces the expression of some markers of neoplastic behavior. However, the buried glandular tissue of the postablation mucosa still exhibits a higher expression than normal esophageal epithelium. This has potential implications for the follow-up treatment of these patients because it is unclear whether the true risk of neoplastic progression is adequately reduced. A more comprehensive study is required to address this issue.

Photodynamic therapy for large superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been found to be safe and effective in patients with small early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, its efficacy for widespread superficial SCC has not yet been confirmed.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the long-term survival, complications, and recurrence of PDT for large superficial esophageal SCC.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

A total of 38 patients with superficial SCC of the esophagus. All patients had a large unifocal lesion or multifocal lesions that were too large to be resected endoscopically. In addition, all patients were physiologically unfit for esophagectomy or had refused surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

PDT with porfimer sodium.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Clinical follow-up, long-term survival, complications, and recurrence were evaluated.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients (82%) had mucosal cancer (T1m), and 7 (18%) had submucosal cancer (T1sm). No patient had lymph node involvement. Nineteen patients had other primary malignancies. Complete remission was achieved in 33 (87%). At the time of writing, 28 patients (74%) were alive without recurrence. After a median follow-up period of 64 months (range, 7-125 months) after PDT, the overall 5-year survival rate was 76%. There was no treatment-related mortality.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective study with a small number of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This long-term follow-up study revealed that PDT was a potentially curative treatment for large superficial esophageal SCC. PDT might be a reasonable alternative to esophagectomy or to endoscopic resection for patients with superficial SCC of the esophagus without lymph node metastasis.

Endoscopic treatments for Barrett's esophagus: a systematic review of safety and effectiveness compared to esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Recently, several new endoscopic treatments have been used to treat patients with Barrett's esophagus with high grade dysplasia. This systematic review aimed to determine the safety and effectiveness of these treatments compared with esophagectomy.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to identify studies of endoscopic treatments for Barrett's esophagus or early stage esophageal cancer. Information from the selected studies was extracted by two independent reviewers. Study quality was assessed and information was tabulated to identify trends or patterns. Results were pooled across studies for each outcome. Safety (occurrence of adverse events) and effectiveness (complete eradication of dysplasia) were compared across different treatments.

RESULTS

The 101 studies that met the selection criteria included 8 endoscopic techniques and esophagectomy; only 12 were comparative studies. The quality of evidence was generally low. Methods and outcomes were inconsistently reported. Protocols, outcomes measured, follow-up times and numbers of treatment sessions varied, making it difficult to calculate pooled estimates.The surgical mortality rate was 1.2%, compared to 0.04% in 2831 patients treated endoscopically (1 death). Adverse events were more severe and frequent with esophagectomy, and included anastomotic leaks (9.4%), wound infections (4.1%) and pulmonary complications (4.1%). Four patients (0.1%) treated endoscopically experienced bleeding requiring transfusions. The stricture rate with esophagectomy (5.3%) was lower than with porfimer sodium photodynamic therapy (18.5%), but higher than aminolevulinic acid (ALA) 60 mg/kg PDT (1.4%). Dysphagia and odynophagia varied in frequency across modalities, with the highest rates reported for multipolar electrocoagulation (MPEC). Photosensitivity, an adverse event that occurs only with photodynamic therapy, was experienced by 26.4% of patients who received porfimer sodium.Some radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or argon plasma coagulation (APC) studies (used in multiple sessions) reported rates of almost 100% for complete eradication of dysplasia. But the study methods and findings were not adequately described. The other studies of endoscopic treatments reported similarly high rates of complete eradication.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic treatments offer safe and effective alternatives to esophagectomy for patients with Barrett's esophagus and high grade dysplasia. Unfortunately, shortcomings in the published studies make it impossible to determine the comparative effectiveness of each of the endoscopic treatments.

New endoscopic and surgical treatment options for early esophageal adenocarcinoma

Although the outcome for advanced stage esophageal cancer is poor, the early detection and treatment of early stage disease is usually associated with a much better outcome. Until recently, esophagectomy has been the treatment of choice in fit patients. However, morbidity is significant, and this has encouraged the development of newer endoscopic treatments that preserve the esophagus. These techniques include ablation and mucosal resection. Promising results are described, and endoscopic methods might provide a reasonable alternative for the treatment of early esophageal cancer. However, follow-up remains short and endoscopic treatment does not deal with potential lymphatic spread. Hence, careful selection is required. Minimally invasive techniques for esophageal resection have also been shown to be feasible, although there is only limited evidence that they reduce postoperative morbidity. Better data are still required to demonstrate improved outcomes from endoscopic treatment and minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Effects of photodynamic therapy for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in vivo and in vitro

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an ablative treatment leading to intracellular photoexcitation and injury. A total of 15 patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) without metastasis underwent PDT and 48-72 h after intravenous Photofrin, the patients were treated with a 630-nm excimer dye laser. A total of 13 patients had local tumor recurrence after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) consisting of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP). Of 6 patients, 5 had submucosal ESCC and were treated with S-1. Complete reponse was achieved by 11 patients with initial PDT, but 2 had recurrences. The recurrent/residual tumors were successfully treated with repeated PDT. Two patients with intramucosal ESCC succumbed due to metastatic disease, but 11 patients were disease-free. The 5 patients treated with S-1 remained alive despite submucosal ESCC. PDT was applied to human ESCC cells in vitro in the presence or absence of 5-FU or CDDP. The combination of PDT with 5-FU or CDDP resulted in enhanced cytotoxic effects, thereby reducing the effective dosage of each drug. PDT is a promising treatment option for selected ESCC cases, particularly for local recurrence following CRT. Our experience suggests that PDT is more effective when combined with chemotherapy.

Cell proliferation and cell cycle alterations in oesophageal p53-mutated cancer cells treated with cisplatin in combination with photodynamic therapy

OBJECTIVES

The major goal of anti-cancer therapies is selective destruction of tumour cells with minimum side effects on normal cells. Towards this aim, combination of different therapeutic modalities has been evaluated for improving control of neoplastic diseases and quality of life for the patient. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a procedure for treatment of various types of cancer, but its combination with other established treatments has not been evaluated in detail. We have used KYSE-510 cells from a human oesophageal carcinoma as an in vitro model to investigate whether cisplatin (CDDP) could be combined with PDT to increase cell death with respect to single treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

p53-mutated KYSE-510 cells were treated with CDDP alone or in combination with PDT. Analyses of cell viability, cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction were carried out at specific times after treatments.

RESULTS

Decrease in cell viability, cell cycle arrest at the G(2)/M- and S-phases boundary, and apoptosis induction were observed after single and combined treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that low CDDP doses (0.25-1 microm) induce cell mortality and cell cycle perturbation, which were more evident when given in combination with PDT, but in contrast to work of other authors no synergistic activity was found. Apoptosis occurred via intrinsic pathways in treated cells, although it did not represent the predominant mode of cell death.

The safety and effectiveness of endoscopic and non-endoscopic approaches to the management of early esophageal cancer: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Traditionally, management of early cancer (stages 0-IIA) has comprised esophagectomy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Recent efforts to improve outcomes and minimize side-effects have focussed on minimally invasive, endoscopic treatments that remove lesions while sparing healthy tissue. This review assesses their safety and efficacy/effectiveness relative to traditional, non-endoscopic treatments for early esophageal cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies was performed using Cochrane guidelines. Bibliographic databases searched to identify relevant English language studies published in the last 3 years included: PubMed (i.e., MEDLINE and additional sources), EMBASE, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, the UK Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (NHS EED, DARE and HTA) databases, EconLit and Web of Science. Web sites of professional associations, relevant cancer organizations, clinical practice guidelines, and clinical trials were also searched. Two independent reviewers selected, critically appraised, and extracted information from studies.

RESULTS

The review included 75 studies spanning 3124 patients and 10 forms of treatment. Most studies were of short term duration and non-comparative. Adverse events reported across studies of endoscopic techniques were similar and less significant compared to those in the studies of non-endoscopic techniques. Complete response rates were slightly lower for photodynamic therapy (PDT) relative to the other endoscopic techniques, possibly due to differences in patient populations across studies. No studies compared overall or cause-specific survival in patients who received endoscopic treatments vs. those who received non-endoscopic treatments.

DISCUSSION

Based on findings from this review, there is no single "best practice" approach to the treatment of early esophageal cancer.

Surgery versus radical endotherapies for early cancer and high grade dysplasia in Barrett's oesophagus

BACKGROUND

Barrett's oesophagus is one of the most common premalignant lesions in the world. Currently the mainstay of therapy is surgical management of advanced cancer but this has improved the five-year survival very little in the last 30 years. As a consequence, improved survival relies on early detection through endoscopic surveillance programmes. Success of this strategy relies on the fact that late stage premalignant lesions or very early cancers can be cured by intervention. Currently there is considerable controversy over which method is best: i.e. conventional open surgery or endotherapy (techniques involving endoscopy).

OBJECTIVES

We used data from randomised controlled trials to examine the effectiveness of endotherapies compared with surgery, in people with Barrett's Oesophagus; those with early neoplasias (defined as high grade dysplasia (HGD), and those with early cancer (defined as carcinoma in-situ, superficially invasive, early cancer or superficial cancer T-1m (T1-a) and T-1sm (T1-b)).

SEARCH STRATEGY

We used the Cochrane highly sensitive search strategy to identify randomised trials in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, ISI Web of Science, EBMR, Controlled Trials mRCT and ISRCTN and LILACS, in July and August 2008.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Types of studies: randomised controlled trials comparing endotherapies with surgery in the treatment of high grade dysplasia (HGD), or early cancer. All cellular types of cancer were included (i.e. adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and more unusual types) but will be discussed separately.

TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

patients of any age and either gender with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of early neoplasia (HGD and early cancer) in Barrett's or squamous lined oesophagus.Types of interventions; endotherapies (the intervention) compared with surgery (the control), all with curative intent.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Reports of studies which meet the inclusion criteria for this review would have been analysed using the methods detailed in Appendix 9.

MAIN RESULTS

We did not identify any studies which met the inclusion criteria.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This Cochrane review has indicated that there are no randomised control trials to compare management options in this vital area, therefore trials should be undertaken as a matter of urgency. The problems with such randomised methods are standardising surgery and endotherapies in all sites; standardising histopathology in all centres; assessing which patients are fit or unfit for surgery; and making sure there are relevant outcomes for the study i.e. long term survival (over five or more years) and no progression of high grade dysplasia.

Risk stratification for early esophageal adenocarcinoma: analysis of lymphatic spread and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of factors related to outcome is vital for the selection of therapeutic alternatives for patients with early (T1) esophageal adenocarcinoma. This study was undertaken to determine predictors of lymphatic spread and prognostic factors for T1 esophageal adenocarcinoma following esophagectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospectively maintained database identified 85 patients with T1 esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent esophagectomy without neoadjuvant therapy. Depth of tumor invasion (T stage) was subdivided into mucosal (T1a) or submucosal invasion (T1b). Median follow-up was 59 months.

RESULTS

Thoracoscopically assisted 3-phase esophagectomy was performed in 73 of 85 patients (86%). Lymph node metastases (N stage) were identified in 9 of 85 patients (11%). Depth of tumor invasion (T stage), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and poor differentiation were associated with N stage. The patients could be stratified into 4 risk groups for lymph node metastases: group I--T1a (0 of 35 patients [0%] with positive nodes); group II--T1b, well/moderate differentiation and no LVI (1 of 28 patients [4%] with positive nodes); group III--T1b, poor differentiation and no LVI (2 of 9 patients [22%] with positive nodes); and group IV--T1b any grade with LVI (6 of 13 patients [46%] with positive nodes). Survival analyses found T stage, N stage, LVI, and poor differentiation to be significant prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk stratification is possible for patents with T1 esophageal adenocarcinoma. Local resection techniques without lymphadenectomy may be alternatives for T1a tumors. Esophagectomy should remain the standard of care for patients with T1b tumors and those with LVI or poor differentiation considered for neoadjuvant therapy.

Treatment for Barrett's oesophagus

BACKGROUND

Treatments for Barrett's oesophagus, the precursor lesion of adenocarcinoma, are available but whether these therapies effectively prevent the development of adenocarcinoma, and in some cases eradicate the Barrett's oesophagus segment, remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To summarise, quantify and compare the efficacy of pharmacological, surgical and endoscopic treatments for the eradication of dysplastic and non-dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus and prevention of these states from progression to adenocarcinoma.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2004, issue 4), MEDLINE (1966 to June 2008) and EMBASE (1980 to June 2008).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing medical, endoscopic or non-resectional surgical treatments for Barrett's oesophagus. The primary outcome measures were complete eradication of Barrett's and dysplasia at 12 months, and reduction in the number of patients progressing to cancer at five years or latest time point.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three authors independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the trials included in the analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

Sixteen studies, including 1074 patients, were included. The mean number of participants in the studies was small (n = 49; range 8 to 208). Most studies did not report on the primary outcomes. Medical and surgical interventions to reduce symptoms and sequelae of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) did not induce significant eradication of Barrett's oesophagus or dysplasia. Endoscopic therapies (photodynamic therapy (PDT with aminolevulinic acid or porfimer sodium), argon plasma coagulation (APC) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA)) all induced regression of Barrett's oesophagus and dysplasia. The data for photodynamic therapy were heterogeneous with a mean eradication rate of 51% for Barrett's oesophagus and between 56% and 100% for dysplasia, depending on the treatment regimens. The variation in photodynamic therapy eradication rates for dysplasia was dependent on the drug, source and dose of light. Radiofrequency ablation resulted in eradication rates of 82% and 94% for Barrett's oesophagus and dysplasia respectively, compared to a sham treatment. Endoscopic treatments were generally well tolerated, however all were associated with some buried glands, particularly following argon plasma coagulation and photodynamic therapy, as well as photosensitivity and strictures induced by porfimer sodium based photodynamic therapy in particular.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Despite their failure to eradicate Barrett's oesophagus, the role of medical and surgical interventions to reduce the troubling symptoms and sequelae of GORD is not questioned. Whether therapies for GORD reduce the cancer risk is not yet known. Ablative therapies have an increasing role in the management of dysplasia within Barrett's and current data would favour the use of radiofrequency ablation compared with photodynamic therapy. Radiofrequency ablation has been shown to yield significantly fewer complications than photodynamic therapy and is very efficacious at eradicating both dysplasia and Barrett's itself. However, long-term follow-up data are still needed before radiofrequency ablation can be used in routine clinical care without the need for very careful post-treatment surveillance. More clinical trial data and in particular randomised controlled trials are required to assess whether or not the cancer risk is reduced in routine clinical practice.

The role of photodynamic therapy in the esophagus

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a drug and device therapy using photosensitizer drugs activated by laser light for mucosal ablation. Porfimer sodium PDT has been used extensively with proven long-term efficacy and durability for the ablation of Barrett esophagus and high-grade dysplasia. and early esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, continued use is hampered by an associated stricture risk and prolonged photosensitivity (4-6 weeks). Promising single-center European studies using other forms of PDT, such as aminolevulinic acid PDT, have not been replicated elsewhere, limiting the widespread use of other forms of PDT. Future use of PDT in esophageal disease depends on the development of improved dosimetry and patient selection to optimize treatment outcomes, while minimizing adverse events and complications.

Hematoporphyrin derivative-mediated photodynamic therapy inhibits tumor growth in human cholangiocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo

AIM

To investigate the effects of hematoporphyrin derivative-mediated photodynamic therapy (HPD-PDT) on cell growth in human cholangiocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo, as well as the underlying mechanisms of these effects.

METHODS

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to evaluate growth status of human cholangiocarcinoma cell line (QBC939). Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry assays were applied to determine cell apoptosis. Western blotting analysis was performed to detect the release of cytochrome c in QBC939 cells, and caspases enzymatic assay was used to investigate the activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9. Further, tumor growth after subcutaneous implantation of QBC939 cells in nude mice was monitored.

RESULTS

HPD-PDT inhibits QBC939 cell growth via cell apoptosis in vitro, and initiates cell mitochondria apoptosis pathway by the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-9 and -3. Moreover, HPD-PDT also inhibits subcutaneous tumor growth of QBC939 cells and reduces tumor cell mitosis in nude mice.

CONCLUSION

HPD-PDT inhibits tumor growth of human cholangiocarcinoma, suggesting that HPD-PDT is useful in cholangiocarcinoma therapy.

Technologic innovations in surgery: a philosophic reflection on their impact on operations for cancer

Technologic advances this past half-century have clearly had a positive effect on our ability to both diagnose and treat human cancer as well as on the operative treatment of other diseases. However, the impact of these innovations on the surgical treatment of cancer is not as clear as it is for many other problems that are managed surgically. This review is an "opinion piece" that attempts to assess the successes and failures of technologic innovations that have been introduced for the purpose of improving the operative treatment of cancer.

Surgery versus radical endotherapies for early cancer and high grade dysplasia in Barrett's oesophagus

BACKGROUND

Barrett's oesophagus is one of the most common premalignant lesions in the world. Currently the mainstay of therapy is surgical management of advanced cancer but this has improved the five-year survival very little in the last 30 years. As a consequence, improved survival relies on early detection through endoscopic surveillance programmes. Success of this strategy relies on the fact that late stage premalignant lesions or very early cancers can be cured by intervention. Currently there is considerable controversy over which method is best: i.e. conventional open surgery or endotherapy (techniques involving endoscopy).

OBJECTIVES

We used data from randomised controlled trials to examine the effectiveness of endotherapies compared with surgery, in people with Barrett's Oesophagus; those with early neoplasias (defined as high grade dysplasia (HGD), and those with early cancer (defined as carcinoma in-situ, superficially invasive, early cancer or superficial cancer T-1m (T1-a) and T-1sm (T1-b)).

SEARCH STRATEGY

We used the Cochrane highly sensitive search strategy to identify randomized trials in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, ISI Web of Science, EBMR, Controlled Trials mRCT and ISRCTN and LILACS, in July and August 2008.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Types of studies: randomised controlled trials comparing endotherapies with surgery in the treatment of high grade dysplasia (HGD), or early cancer. All cellular types of cancer were included (i.e. adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and more unusual types) but will be discussed separately.

TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

patients of any age and either gender with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of early neoplasia (HGD and early cancer) in Barrett's or squamous lined oesophagus.Types of interventions; endotherapies (the intervention) compared with surgery (the control), all with curative intent.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Reports of studies which meet the inclusion criteria for this review would have been analysed using the methods detailed in Appendix 9.

MAIN RESULTS

We did not identify any studies which met the inclusion criteria.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This Cochrane review has indicated that there are no randomised control trials to compare management options in this vital area, therefore trials should be undertaken as a matter of urgency. The problems with such randomised methods are standardising surgery and endotherapies in all sites; standardising histopathology in all centres; assessing which patients are fit or unfit for surgery; and making sure there are relevant outcomes for the study i.e. no progression of high grade dysplasia or long term survival i.e. over five years.

Patient predictors of esophageal stricture development after photodynamic therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The most common significant adverse event after photodynamic therapy (PDT) with porfimer sodium is esophageal stricture formation. This study assessed whether pretreatment variables, including prior endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus, are associated with post-PDT stricturing.

METHODS

Data from all patients who had undergone PDT with porfimer sodium for Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia, intramucosal carcinoma, or T1 cancer at our institution since 1997 were reviewed.

RESULTS

One hundred sixteen patients underwent 160 courses of PDT. The incidence of stricture formation after index PDT was 16% (19/116). For all PDT courses, the overall incidence of stricture was 23% (37/160). Stricture rate was significantly higher after a second PDT course compared with index PDT (43% vs 16%, P = .0007). There was no association between post-PDT stricture development and age, gender, body mass index, or prior endoscopic mucosal resection. Patients who developed a stricture had a longer length of Barrett's esophagus before treatment than those who did not develop a stricture (7.7 vs 5.7 cm for index PDT only, P = .025; 7.4 vs 5.7 cm for all PDT courses, P = .007). Length of Barrett's esophagus, multiple PDT courses, and presence of intramucosal carcinoma on pretreatment pathology were independent predictors of post-PDT stricture in a stepwise logistic regression analysis controlling for treatment variables, including treatment length.

CONCLUSIONS

An increased risk of stricture development was seen after multiple courses of PDT. An association between post-PDT stricture and length of Barrett's esophagus but not treatment length was also found. Endoscopic mucosal resection did not appear to influence the likelihood of stricture development after porfimer sodium-based PDT.

Advances in photodynamic therapy for gastrointestinal tumors and its propect

This paper reviews the photodynamic therapy for gastrointestinal tumors and its mechanisms, and describes the authors' experience with it. It is feasible and reasonable to use photodynamic therapy for gastrointestinal tumors. It is not in contradiction with PDT and traditional surgical treatment, chemotherapy, radiation and immune therapy, etc. The main mechanisms of photodynamic therapy for gastrointestinal tumors are to damage tumor microvasculature, induce cancer cell apoptosis, injure cancer cell membrane, and trigger immune reactions.