Results of mass endoscopic examination for gastric cancer in Kamigoto Hospital, Nagasaki Prefecture

ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Gastric Premalignant Conditions

Gastric premalignant conditions (GPMC) are common and include atrophic gastritis, gastric intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and certain gastric epithelial polyps. GPMC have an increased risk of progression to gastric adenocarcinoma. Gastric cancer (GC) in the United States represents an important cancer disparity because incidence rates are 2- to 13-fold greater in non-White individuals, particularly early-generation immigrants from regions of high GC incidence. The US 5-year survival rate for GC is 36%, which falls short of global standards and is driven by the fact that only a small percentage of GC in the US is diagnosed in the early, curable stage. This document represents the first iteration of American College of Gastroenterology guidelines on this topic and encompasses endoscopic surveillance for high-risk patients with GPMC, the performance of high-quality endoscopy and image-enhanced endoscopy for diagnosis and surveillance, GPMC histology criteria and reporting, endoscopic treatment of dysplasia, the role of Helicobacter pylori eradication, general risk reduction measures, and the management of autoimmune gastritis and gastric epithelial polyps. There is insufficient evidence to make a recommendation on upper endoscopic screening for GC/GPMC detection in US populations deemed high-risk for GC. Surveillance endoscopy is recommended for individuals at high risk for GPMC progression, as defined by endoscopic, histologic, and demographic factors, typically every 3 years, but an individualized interval may be warranted. H. pylori testing, treatment, and eradication confirmation are recommended in all individuals with GPMC. Extensive high-quality data from US populations regarding GPMC management are lacking, but continue to accrue, and the quality of evidence for the recommendations presented herein should be interpreted with this dynamic context in mind. The GPMC research and education agendas are broad and include high-quality prospective studies evaluating opportunistic endoscopic screening for GC/GPMC, refined delineation of what constitutes "high-risk" populations, development of novel biomarkers, alignment of best practices, implementation of training programs for improved GPMC/GC detection, and evaluation of the impact of these interventions on GC incidence and mortality in the US.

Novel and Effective Blood-Based miRNA Diagnostic Panel for Gastric Cancer: A Pilot Study in a Japanese Population

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) has a high prevalence in Asian countries, and there is an unmet need for non-invasive and efficient GC screening methods. This study evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of GASTROClear, a panel of blood serum miRNAs for the detection of GC, in a Japanese population.

METHODS

We conducted a pilot cohort study, comprising 103 patients with GC and 122 healthy controls. Serum samples were prospectively collected from study participants at two Japanese hospitals using a predefined blood-processing protocol. The diagnostic performance of GASTROClear was analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic curve and cutoff. By applying a logistic regression algorithm, we evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of novel combinations of GC diagnostic biomarker panels, consisting of GASTROClear and alternative serum markers (anti-Helicobacter pylori [Hp] antibody and pepsinogen).

RESULTS

Most patients had Stage I (58%) GC and were asymptomatic (59%). The area under the curve (AUC) value for the detection of GC using GASTROClear was 0.80, with 70.9% sensitivity and 75.2% specificity. GASTROClear performed equally well within the subgroups based on age, sex, symptoms, Hp status, and tumor characteristics. We improved the diagnostic performance of GASTROClear by combining it with an anti-Hp antibody and pepsinogen. This yielded an AUC value of 0.88, with the highest specificity (86.9%) at a fixed sensitivity (70.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

GASTROClear demonstrated competent diagnostic efficacy for GC in the detection of GC in our Japanese cohort, even in the early stages of cancer and asymptomatic cases. Its combination with existing serum markers may contribute to efficient risk stratification to detect GC.

Gastric Cancer Screening in the United States: A Review of Current Evidence, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In the United States, gastric cancer incidence and mortality are substantially higher among non-White racial and ethnic groups and new immigrants from high-incidence countries. This is in large part related to the higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori -associated gastric premalignant changes in these populations. Apart from primary prevention, early detection of gastric cancer is the principal strategy to reduce gastric cancer mortality and improve survival. Extensive evidence in Asian countries has demonstrated the benefits of endoscopic screening in detecting early-stage gastric cancer and reducing gastric cancer-related mortality. By contrast, direct, high-quality US-based data, such as from large clinical trials or observational studies, on important outcomes of gastric cancer screening are still lacking. In this review, we evaluate and summarize the latest global evidence on the epidemiology and predisposing factors of gastric cancer as well as the efficacy, benefits vs. risks, and cost-effectiveness of gastric cancer screening. We further discuss the critical knowledge gaps and challenges in promoting gastric cancer screening in the United States. Dedicated research is urgently needed to enrich the US-based data on gastric cancer primary and secondary prevention to inform clinical practice and reduce gastric cancer-related morbidity and mortality in a cost and resource efficient manner.

Salivary metabolomic biomarkers for esophageal and gastric cancers by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Early detection of esophageal and gastric cancers is essential for patients' prognosis; however, optimal noninvasive screening tests are currently not available. Saliva is a biofluid that is readily available, allowing for frequent screening tests. Thus, we explored salivary diagnostic biomarkers for esophageal and gastric cancers using metabolomic analyses. Saliva samples were collected from patients with esophageal (n = 50) and gastric cancer (n = 63), and patients without cancer as controls (n = 20). Salivary metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify salivary biomarkers. We also examined the metabolic profiles of gastric cancer tissues and compared them with the salivary biomarkers. The sensitivity of the diagnostic models based on salivary biomarkers was assessed by comparing it with that of serum tumor markers. Additionally, using postoperative saliva samples collected from patients with gastric cancer, we analyzed the changes in the biomarkers' concentrations before and after surgery. Cytosine was detected as a salivary biomarker for gastric cancer, and cytosine, 2-oxoglutarate, and arginine were detected as salivary biomarkers for esophageal cancer. Cytidine, a cytosine nucleotide, showed decreased concentrations in gastric cancer tissues. The sensitivity of the diagnostic models for esophageal and gastric cancers was 66.0% and 47.6%, respectively, while that of serum tumor markers was 40%. Salivary cytosine concentration increased significantly postoperatively relative to the preoperative value. In summary, we identified salivary biomarkers for esophageal and gastric cancers, which showed diagnostic sensitivity at least comparable to that of serum tumor markers. Salivary metabolomic tests could be promising screening tests for these types of cancer.

Population effectiveness of endoscopy screening for mortality reduction in gastric cancer

Objectives

No randomized controlled trials have compared endoscopic screening with no screening for gastric cancer on an intention-to-screen basis, and the population-based evidence is insufficient. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the population effectiveness of cancer screening, estimate the number needed to screen (NNS) to reduce one gastric cancer-related death, and evaluate the expected mortality-rate reduction in endoscopic screening for gastric cancer in 184 countries.

Methods

Factors contributing to the attributable risk, NNS, and mortality-rate reduction were identified. A rapid review was performed in PubMed to estimate the pooled relative risk of endoscopic screening compared to that of no screening for mortality reduction. NNSs and mortality-rate reduction were estimated using the pooled relative risk and GLOBOCAN data.

Results

The crude mortality rate, the effectiveness of the screening modality, and the screened rate contributed to the attributable risk, NNS, and mortality-rate reduction in cancer screening. The pooled relative risk was 0.58 in endoscopy screening compared to that in no screening. NNSs and expected mortality-rate reduction differed across countries and ranged from 2522 to 91,575 and 0.2 to 7.9 (per 100,000 individuals) for the screened rate of 20%, respectively.

Conclusions

In addition to the effectiveness of the used modality, the disease burden and screened rate were important in the population effectiveness of cancer screening. Regarding the high NNSs and the low expected mortality-rate reduction, population-based endoscopic screening seems not to be effective in many countries, and these results are meaningful in decision-making regarding the introduction of endoscopic screening.

The Effect of Nationwide Organized Cancer Screening Programs on Gastric Cancer Mortality: A Synthetic Control Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Nationwide organized gastric cancer (GC) screening programs have been running for decades in South Korea and Japan. This study conducted a quasi-experimental analysis to assess the population impact of these programs on GC mortality.

METHODS

We used the flexible synthetic control method (SCM) to estimate the effect of the screening programs on age-standardized GC mortality and other upper gastrointestinal (UGI) diseases (esophageal cancer and peptic ulcer) among people aged ≥40 years. World Health Organization mortality data and country-level covariates from the World Bank and the Global Burden of Diseases study were used for the analyses. We compared postintervention trends in outcome with the counterfactual trend of the synthetic control and estimated average postintervention rate ratios (RRs) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A series of sensitivity analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

The preintervention fits were acceptable for the analyses of South Korea and Japan's GC mortality but poor for Japan's other UGI disease mortality. The average postintervention RRs were 0.83 (95% CI, 0.71-0.96) for GC mortality and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.57-0.90) for other UGI disease mortality in South Korea. The RR reached 0.59 by the 15th year after the initiation of nationwide screening. For Japan, the average RRs were 0.97 (95% CI, 0.88-1.07) for GC mortality and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.68-1.28) for other UGI disease mortality. Sensitivity analysis reveals the result for Japan may potentially be biased.

CONCLUSIONS

South Korea's nationwide GC screening has apparent benefits, whereas the Japanese program's effectiveness is uncertain. The experiences of South Korea and Japan could serve as a reference for other countries.

Forthcoming Step in Gastric Cancer Prevention: How Can Risk Stratification Be Combined with Endoscopic Screening for Gastric Cancer?

Although the concern for gastric cancer prevention has increased, gastric cancer has remained a heavy burden worldwide and is not just a local issue in East Asian countries. However, as several screening programs (listed below) have shown some success, it is important to determine whether the situation is changing in some other countries and whether similar methods should be recommended. Endoscopic screening has been performed as a national program in South Korea and Japan, and the results have shown a reduction in gastric cancer mortality. Although the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication has been established, the efficacy of the screen-and-treat strategy is presently being evaluated in randomized controlled trials. The serum pepsinogen test and endoscopic examination can divide high-risk subjects with severe gastric atrophy from average-risk subjects. Risk stratification is anticipated to contribute to an efficient method of prediction of gastric cancer development when combined with endoscopic screening. Countries with a high incidence rate should realize the immediate need to reduce gastric cancer death directly by endoscopic screening and should recognize screen-and-treat as a second option to reduce future risk. However, all forms of gastric cancer prevention programs have some harms and potential to increase unnecessary examinations. A balance of the benefits and harms should be always considered. Although further study is needed to obtain sufficient evidence for gastric cancer prevention, the best available method should be examined in the context of each country.

An Approach to the Primary and Secondary Prevention of Gastric Cancer in the United States

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of mortality among certain racial, ethnic, and immigrant groups in the United States (US). The majority of GCs are diagnosed at advanced stages, and overall survival remains poor. There exist no structured national strategies for GC prevention in the US.

METHODS

On March 5-6, 2020 a summit of researchers, policy makers, public funders, and advocacy leaders was convened at Stanford University to address this critical healthcare disparity. After this summit, a writing group was formed to critically evaluate the effectiveness, potential benefits, and potential harms of methods of primary and secondary prevention through structured literature review. This article represents a consensus statement prepared by the writing group.

RESULTS

The burden of GC is highly inequitably distributed in the US and disproportionately falls on Asian, African American, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaskan Native populations. In randomized controlled trials, strategies of Helicobacter pylori testing and treatment have been demonstrated to reduce GC-specific mortality. In well-conducted observational and ecologic studies, strategies of endoscopic screening have been associated with reduced GC-specific mortality. Notably however, all randomized controlled trial data (for primary prevention) and the majority of observational data (for secondary prevention) are derived from non-US sources.

CONCLUSIONS

There exist substantial, high-quality data supporting GC prevention derived from international studies. There is an urgent need for cancer prevention trials focused on high-risk immigrant and minority populations in the US. The authors offer recommendations on how strategies of primary and secondary prevention can be applied to the heterogeneous US population.

Gastric cancer screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Gastric cancer (GC) screening is recommended in high-risk populations, although screening methods and intervals vary. In intermediate-risk populations, screening through esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) may be considered depending on local resources. The aim of this study was to compare GC screening methods regarding effect on mortality, diagnostic yield and adherence.

METHODS

Systematic review and meta-analysis including studies evaluating population-based GC screening. Search was conducted in three online databases (MEDLINE, Scopus and clinicaltrials.gov), along with manual search.

RESULTS

Forty-four studies were included. Studies in upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS) demonstrated that GC screening was associated with significantly lower GC mortality rates (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55 - 0.73). Benefits on mortality were also found in EGD and serum pepsinogen (PG) studies. EGD was associated with significantly higher GC (0.55%, 95% CI 0.39 - 0.75%) and early-GC (EGC) detection rates (0.48%, 95% CI 0.34 - 0.65%) when compared to UGIS (GC 0.19%, 95% CI 0.10 - 0.31%; EGC 0.08%, 95% CI 0.04 - 0.13%) and PG (GC 0.10%, 95% CI 0.05 - 0.16%; EGC 0.10%, 95% CI 0.04 - 0.19%). Non-invasive methods tended to higher adherence rates when compared to EGD. Regardless of the screening method, individualized recruitment performed better.

DISCUSSION

Screening positively impacted GC mortality rates. EGD was associated with higher diagnostic yield, while UGIS and PG tended to higher adherence rates. Screening uptake was predominantly impacted by recruitment strategies independently of the adopted method.

Effectiveness of endoscopic screening for gastric cancer: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for gastric cancer screening has been implemented in Japan. However, its effectiveness for gastric cancer prevention has not been fully studied. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of endoscopic screening to reduce mortality from gastric cancer. In a large prospective population‐based cohort study including 80,272 participants, we compared the risk of mortality and incidence of gastric cancer among participants who underwent endoscopic or radiographic screening compared with those who did not undergo any screening using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. In the 1,023,364 person‐year observation period (median; 13.0 years), 1977 cases of gastric cancer were diagnosed, and 783 patients with gastric cancer died. In the endoscopic screening group, the mortality from gastric cancer and incidence of advanced gastric cancer were reduced by 61% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.39 [95% CI: 0.30–0.51]) and 22% (HR = 0.78 [95% CI: 0.67–0.90]), respectively. The radiographic screening reduced the mortality from gastric cancer (HR = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.54–0.73]), but its effectiveness was lower than that of endoscopic screening. In conclusion, endoscopic screening reduced the incidence of advanced gastric cancer and mortality from gastric cancer in the Japanese population.

High-risk population's knowledge of risk factors and warning symptoms and their intention toward gastric cancer screening in Southeastern China

Background

As the incidence of gastric cancer (GC) increases sharply in adults aged over 40 years, screening of this high-risk population is important. This study aimed to explore knowledge level of GC related risk factors and symptoms, and to identify influencing factors associated with intention toward GC screening among people aged 40 years old and above in China.

Methods

A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among people aged 40 years old and above between October 2021 and March 2022 in Southeastern China. The participants' knowledge was assessed by a series of questions about risk factors (24-item scale) and warning symptoms (14-item scale).

Results

A total of 2547 complete responses were received. The mean age was 47.72 (±7.20) years and near 60% were male. Respondents had a moderate level of knowledge about risk factors and warning symptoms of GC. The total mean knowledge score was 23.9 (±9.8) out of a possible score of 38. Majority (80%) of respondents reported intention to be screened for GC in the next 5 years. The most influential predictors of screening intention were income level (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.36-3.32), perceived benefits (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.33-2.73), perceived severity (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.20-2.34), ever took GC screening (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.28-2.08), perceived poor overall health (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.19-2.11), and perceived barriers (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.17-2.09). Other significant factors were ever diagnosed with chronic gastric diseases, total knowledge score, and cues-to-action. The major reasons for not willing to take screening were "endoscopy is uncomfortable" (29.6%), "worry about screening results" (23.6%), and "have no symptoms" (21.3%).

Conclusion

High-risk population aged 40 years and above expressed high intention to receive GC screening. Intervention to improve health promotion and reduce the barriers to uptake of GC screening among high-risk populations in China is warranted.

Endoscopic Treatment of Superficial Gastric Cancer: Present Status and Future

Although the mortality rates of gastric cancer (GC) are gradually declining, gastric cancer is still the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. This may be due to the high rate of patients who are diagnosed with GC at advanced stages. However, in countries such as Japan with endoscopic screening systems, more than half of GCs are discovered at an early stage, enabling endoscopic resection (ER). Especially after the introduction of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in Japan around 2000, a high en bloc resection rate allowing pathological assessment of margin and depth has become possible. While ER is a diagnostic method of treatment and may not always be curative, it is widely accepted as standard treatment because it is less invasive than surgery and can provide an accurate diagnosis for deciding whether additional surgery is necessary. The curability of ER is currently assessed by the completeness of primary tumor removal and the possibility of lymph node metastasis. This review introduces methods, indications, and curability criteria for ER of EGC. Despite recent advances, several problems remain unsolved. This review will also outline the latest evidence concerning future issues.

Feasibility of standardized procedures of white light gastroscopy for clinical practice: A multicenter study in China

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to establish a standardized procedure for white light gastroscopy (WLG) to screen gastric lesions including early gastric cancer (EGC) in China and to verify its efficacy and feasibility in clinical practice.

METHODS

A standardized WLG procedure for outpatients at nine tertiary hospitals in Beijing was established. Clinical information of the participants and details of the endoscopic procedures were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 1051 participants were enrolled in a baseline conventional endoscopic survey between March 2014 and December 2015, while 2156 patients were enrolled in the standardized WLG operation from January 2016 to June 2017. The procedure time of the standardized procedure was significantly longer than that of the baseline conventional procedure (P = 0.003). More images were obtained during the standardized procedure compared with the baseline conventional procedure (P < 0.001). The overall detection rate of gastric lesions in the standardized procedure group was significantly higher than that in the baseline procedure group (52.5% vs 38.4%, P < 0.01). The satisfaction scores of both participants and endoscopists in the standardized procedure group were significantly higher than in the baseline procedure group.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the conventional procedure, standardized WLG procedure significantly improves the detection rate of gastric lesions as well as the satisfaction score of participants and endoscopists despite its longer procedure time. It is effective and feasible in clinical practice in China for the use of currently available endoscopic equipment.

Trends in the Performance of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program for Gastric Cancer from 2007 to 2016

Purpose

The Korean National Cancer Screening Program (KNCSP) has implemented two screening methods for gastric cancer— upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS) and endoscopy—for Koreans aged ≥ 40 years. We aimed to assess performance trends for both screening methods.

Materials and Methods

The KNCSP database was used to evaluate individuals who underwent screening from 2007 to 2016. The final gastric cancer diagnosis was ascertained by linking with the Korean Central Cancer Registry. We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional analysis to estimate performance indicators of gastric cancer screening by UGIS and endoscopy, stratified by sociodemographic factors.

Results

We found that screening rates for gastric cancer increased from 28% to 51.7% between 2007 and 2016, and that the rate of endoscopy use for gastric cancer screening increased sharply. Cancer detection rates (CDR) of UGIS and endoscopy were 0.41 and 2.25 per 1,000 screens in 2007–2008 and 0.26 and 1.99 in 2015–2016, respectively. Interval cancer rates (ICR) per 1,000 negative screenings were 1.33 (2007–2008) and 1.21 (2015–2016) for UGIS and 1.14 (2007–2008) and 0.88 (2015–2016) for endoscopy. The sensitivity of UGIS decreased from 23.6% (2007–2008) to 17.6% (2015–2016), whereas that of endoscopy increased from 66.4% (2007–2008) to 69.3% (2015–2016). Specificity was maintained at > 99% for both methods over the study period.

Conclusion

The use of endoscopy for gastric cancer screening within the KNCSP has increased. Endoscopy has higher CDR, sensitivity, and specificity, and lower ICR estimates than does UGIS.

Endoscopic Screening and Surveillance for Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Gastric cancer is a multifactorial disease, and the incidence varies widely by geographic region, with half of new cases occurring in East Asia. Population-based nationwide screening for gastric cancer has been implemented in some Eastern Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan. In these countries, endoscopic screening decreased gastric cancer mortality. Endoscopic screening seems to be a cost-effective modality in countries with high incidence of gastric cancer. However, the usefulness of population-based screening has not yet been proved in countries with low incidence of gastric cancer.

Utility of Kyoto Classification of Gastritis in subjects with a high-negative titer of anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody during a medical check-up

Subjects with a high-negative titer (3-9.9 U/ml) of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibody represent a heterogeneous group of currently H. pylori-infected, H. pylori-uninfected, and previously H. pylori-infected cases. We investigated the characteristics of subjects with a high-negative titer during a medical check-up and the utility of H. pylori infection score, the sum of scores of endoscopic findings based on the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis, for diagnosing H. pylori infection. Subjects with ¹³C-urea breath test-positive or H. pylori stool antigen test-positive were diagnosed as currently H. pylori-infected. Although around half of subjects with a high-negative titer were after eradication therapy (48.6%), currently H. pylori-infected were considerably confirmed (11.7%). H. pylori infection score showed a high value of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84-1.00] with the most suitable cut-off value of 1.0 (sensitivity: 0.92; specificity: 0.90). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that H. pylori infection score was an independent factor associated with increased prevalence of H. pylori infection (odds ratio, 9.53; 95% CI, 2.64-34.40; p<0.001). Currently H. pylori-infected subjects were considerably included among the subjects with a high-negative titer, and the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis was useful to predict current H. pylori infection.

Management following endoscopic resection in elderly patients with early-stage upper gastrointestinal neoplasia

With the ongoing increase in the aging population in Japan, the number of elderly patients among the total population with upper gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasia has also been increasing. As elderly patients present unique age-related variations in their physical condition, the therapeutic approach for upper GI neoplasia should be differentiated between elderly and nonelderly patients. According to the existing guidelines, additional treatment is the standard therapy in patients who undergo endoscopic resection (ER) with a possible risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) for upper GI neoplasia. However, due to the relatively low rate of LNM, applying additional treatment in all elderly patients may be excessive. Although additional treatment has the advantage of reducing cancer-specific mortality, its disadvantages include deteriorated quality of life, complications, and mortality in surgery. In patients with early gastric cancer, we propose treatment decisions be made using a risk-scoring system for LNM and upon considering the physical condition of the patient after ER with curability C-2. In those with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with a possible risk of LNM after ER, selective chemoradiotherapy may be a less-invasive treatment option, although the present standard treatment is esophagectomy. When considering the treatment decision, achieving a "cure" of the tumor has been regarded as critical. However, as the main cause of mortality in elderly patients with ER for upper GI neoplasia is noncancer-related death, both achieving a "cure" and also a good level of "care" is important in the management of elderly patients.

A Recent Argument for the Use of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancers

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has become the standard treatment method for early gastric cancers (EGCs) due to the negligible risk for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in Eastern Asian countries. According to the guidelines, the curability of EGC after endoscopic resection was classified into three groups: curative resection, expanded curative resection, and noncurative resection. In Eastern Asian countries, a structured follow-up schedule is needed for patients undergoing curative resection and expanded curative resection. Conversely, in Western countries, additional surgery may be recommended for some patients undergoing expanded curative resection (ulcerated, undifferentiated, or slight submucosal invasion) due to the potential risk for LNM, even though specimens of ESD and surgery may not be handled with the same methodology as that used in Japan, which may lead to this slightly higher risk. In noncurative resection, additional surgery is the standard method after ESD because of the risk for LNM. However, in elderly patients and/or those with severe underlying diseases, the advantages and disadvantages of additional surgery should be considered when selecting a post-ESD treatment strategy for patients undergoing noncurative resection. Risk-scoring systems for LNM may facilitate clinical decisions for these patients. However, it should be noted that when recurrence was detected in patients who were followed up with no additional treatment after ESD with noncurative resection, most of them had a poor prognosis. To select an appropriate treatment method, especially in elderly patients undergoing ESD with noncurative resection, a new tool for evaluating the condition of patients should be established.

Determinants of participation and detection rate of upper gastrointestinal cancer from population-based screening program in China

Upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGC) screening has been widely implemented in many Asian countries. However, there is little evidence of participation and diagnostic yields in population-based UGC screening in China. The participation rate and detection of upper gastrointestinal lesions in this program were reported and related factors were explored. The analysis was conducted in the context of the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China, which recruited 179 002 eligible participants aged 40-74 years from three cities in Henan province from 2013 to 2017. A total of 43 423 participants were evaluated to be high risk for esophageal cancer or gastric cancer by an established risk score system and were subsequently recommended for endoscopy. Of 43 423 with high risk for UGC, 7996 subjects undertook endoscopy (participation rate of 18.4%). We found that male sex, high level of education, marriage, smoking, current alcohol drinking, lack of physical activity, history of upper gastrointestinal system disease, and family history of UGC were associated with increased participation of endoscopy screening. Overall, 15 UGC (0.19%), 275 squamous epithelial dysplasia (3.44%), and 33 intraepithelial neoplasm (0.41%) cases were detected. Several factors including age, sex, smoking, current alcohol drinking, lack of physical activity, and dietary intake of processed meat were identified to be associated with the presence of upper gastrointestinal lesions. Health promotion campaigns targeting the specific group of individuals identified in our study will be helpful for improvement of the adherence of UGC screening in population-based cancer screening programs. Participant rate and yield of UGC screening will provide important references for evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of cancer screening in China.

The long-term population impact of endoscopic screening programmes on disease burdens of gastric cancer in China: A mathematical modelling study

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) incidence and mortality in China remained high due to delayed diagnosis and accounted for about half of the world's GC cases and deaths. Early detection with endoscopic screening and consequent timely treatment can significantly improve survival. This study aimed to explore the long-term population impact of endoscopic screening on national GC disease burdens in China.

METHODS

Most of previous studies investigated the disease burdens of cancer using Markov model or age-period-cohort (APC) model, which are difficult to estimate the population size of undiagnosed cases. In this paper, we proposed a new dynamic compartmental model based on GC natural history and calibrated model outputs to diagnosed GC cases and GC-related death counts using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. We investigated the impact of screening strategies with various coverage (10%, 40%, 70%) and frequency (every 1, 3, 5 years) on disease burdens.

RESULTS

We estimated that 2.22 (95%CI: 1.97-2.47) million Chinese are living with GC in 2019, among which, 42.7% (40.3-45.0%) remained undiagnosed. Without systematic screening, we projected 10.46 (9.07-11.86) million incident cases and 7.35 (6.59-8.11) million GC-related deaths over the next 30 years (2019-2049). Screening with coverage rate at 10%, 40%, 70% every 3 years could prevent 0.85 (0.63-1.06), 2.32 (1.79-2.86), and 3.04 (2.38-3.70) million incident cases, and prevent 1.17 (1.01-1.32), 3.08 (2.70-3.46), and 3.93 (3.46-4.40) million deaths respectively, compared with 'no screening' scenario. Screening would substantially increase the number of diagnosed GC cases within the first three years of program initiation, but this number would quickly reduce below 'no screening' scenario. Three-yearly screening at the above coverage rates would reduce the proportion of undiagnosed GC cases to 38.8% (36.9-40.7%), 25.5% (23.4-27.6%), and 17.8% (16.0-19.6%) by 2049, respectively. Delaying implementation of the screening program would substantially reduce its effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Initiating national endoscopic screening programmes would likely have a major effect on reducing GC incidence and mortality in China. Health resources should be substantially increased and directed to treatment of GC to cope with the initial rise in diagnosed GC cases.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the diagnosis and management of patients at risk of gastric adenocarcinoma

Gastric adenocarcinoma carries a poor prognosis, in part due to the late stage of diagnosis. Risk factors include Helicobacter pylori infection, family history of gastric cancer-in particular, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer and pernicious anaemia. The stages in the progression to cancer include chronic gastritis, gastric atrophy (GA), gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) and dysplasia. The key to early detection of cancer and improved survival is to non-invasively identify those at risk before endoscopy. However, although biomarkers may help in the detection of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, there is insufficient evidence to support their use for population screening. High-quality endoscopy with full mucosal visualisation is an important part of improving early detection. Image-enhanced endoscopy combined with biopsy sampling for histopathology is the best approach to detect and accurately risk-stratify GA and GIM. Biopsies following the Sydney protocol from the antrum, incisura, lesser and greater curvature allow both diagnostic confirmation and risk stratification for progression to cancer. Ideally biopsies should be directed to areas of GA or GIM visualised by high-quality endoscopy. There is insufficient evidence to support screening in a low-risk population (undergoing routine diagnostic oesophagogastroduodenoscopy) such as the UK, but endoscopic surveillance every 3 years should be offered to patients with extensive GA or GIM. Endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection of visible gastric dysplasia and early cancer has been shown to be efficacious with a high success rate and low rate of recurrence, providing that specific quality criteria are met.

Screening high-risk populations for esophageal and gastric cancer

Cancers of the esophagus and stomach remain important causes of mortality worldwide, in large part because they are most often diagnosed at advanced stages. Thus, it is imperative that we identify and treat these cancers in earlier stages. Due to significant heterogeneity in incidence and risk factors for these cancers, it has been challenging to develop standardized screening recommendations. This review summarizes the current recommendations for screening populations at high risk of developing esophagogastric cancers.

Endoscopic Screening in Asian Countries Is Associated With Reduced Gastric Cancer Mortality: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

It is not clear how endoscopic screening for gastric cancer affects incidence or mortality. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between endoscopic screening for gastric cancer and mortality and incidence.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of PubMed and EMBASE for published cohort and case-control studies of adults without gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic screening at least once that included a comparator and reported outcomes of mortality or incidence through March 8, 2018. Two investigators independently reviewed the included studies and extracted relevant data. The effect estimate of interest was the relative risk (RR). We used a random effects model to combine RRs and 95% confidence intervals (Cis).

RESULTS

Our final analysis included 6 cohort studies and 4 nested case-control studies comprising 342,013 individuals, all from Asia. The combined result (RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.49-0.73) indicated that endoscopic screening was associated with a 40% RR reduction in gastric cancer mortality. We did not observe an association between endoscopic screening and incidence (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.93-1.40). Subgroup analysis showed significant reductions in gastric cancer mortality after endoscopic screening compared with no screening (RR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.48-0.70) or radiographic screening (RR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12-0.91). However, endoscopic screening did not significantly reduce mortality compared with expected deaths (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.38-1.16).

CONCLUSIONS

In a systematic review and meta-analysis, we found that endoscopic screening may reduce the risk of death from gastric cancer and not affect incidence in Asian countries. Population-based prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Update version of the Japanese Guidelines for Gastric Cancer Screening

BACKGROUND

Although the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer have gradually decreased, its burden remains in East Asian countries. Gastric cancer screening has been performed in Japan since 1983, and the introduction of new screening techniques has been eagerly anticipated.

OBJECTIVE

To promote evidence-based screening, the Japanese guidelines for gastric cancer screening have been revised based on the new studies.

METHODS

The guidelines for gastric cancer screening have been developed according to a previously established method. To assess evidence regarding the effectiveness of the screening methods, a systematic review was conducted based on an analytic framework including clinical questions aiming at reducing mortality from gastric cancer. The following methods were assessed for gastric cancer screening: upper gastrointestinal series (radiographic screening), gastrointestinal endoscopy (endoscopic screening), Helicobacter pylori antibody test and serum pepsinogen tests. Based on the balance of the benefits and harms of each screening method, recommendations for population-based and opportunistic screenings were formulated.

FINDINGS

After the Japanese guidelines for gastric cancer screening were published in 2005, several observational studies on radiographic and endoscopic screenings have been reported. Three case-control studies have evaluated mortality reduction from gastric cancer by endoscopic screening. Notably, evidence of the H. pylori antibody and serum pepsinogen tests was insufficient. Although false-positive results, false-negative results, and complications were observed in endoscopic and radiographic screenings, the complication rates were higher in endoscopic screening than in radiographic screening. Overdiagnosis was not estimated directly in both methods.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Radiographic and endoscopic screenings for gastric cancer are recommended for population-based and opportunistic screenings. The H. pylori antibody and serum pepsinogen tests are not recommended for population-based screening because of insufficient evidence.

Cancer screening guidelines and policy making: 15 years of experience in cancer screening guideline development in Japan

Cancer deaths have remained a heavy burden in Japan, thus cancer screening has been anticipated to be a practical strategy for reducing mortality from cancers. The Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Program published in 2006 stated that evidence-based cancer screening is required. At the conception of national cancer screening programs, there were no cancer screening assessments. From 1998 to 2001, Hisamichi formed committees for the assessment of cancer screening and published three reports. These reports were the cornerstone in assessing primary studies of cancer screening in Japan which served as a stimulus for the development of cancer screening guidelines. Since 2003, research groups funded by the National Cancer Center have developed cancer screening guidelines based on established methods in reference to international standards. Screening guidelines for the following cancers have been published: gastric, colorectal, lung, prostate, cervical and breast cancers. Recommendations for screening are made following assessment of the balance of benefits and harms. The recommendation has been divided for population-based screening and opportunistic screening. New screening techniques with insufficient evidence have been suggested to further undergo research. The national committee has continued to appraise their evidence for cancer screening based on established guidelines and has discussed implementation problems. The screening methods for breast and gastric cancers have been revised based on cancer screening guidelines. Cancer screening guidelines have increasingly contributed to the promotion of evidence-based cancer screening for national programs. To provide appropriate cancer screening evidence, additional studies to further improve the methodology for guideline development are warranted.

Evaluating efficacy of screening for upper gastrointestinal cancer in China: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of screening procedure for upper gastrointestinal cancer in both high-risk and non-high-risk areas in China.

Setting

Seven cities/counties, representing three economical-geographical regions (Eastern, Central and Western) in China, were selected as screening centers: three in high-risk areas and four in non-high-risk areas.

Participants

Villages/communities in these seven centers regarded as clusters were randomly assigned to either intervention group (screening by endoscopic examination) or control group (with normal community care) in a 1:1 ratio stratified by each center. Eligible participants are local residents aged 40–69 years in the selected villages/communities with no history of cancer or endoscopic examination in the latest 3 years who are mentally and physically competent. Those who are not willing to take endoscopic examination or are unwilling to sign the consent form are excluded from the study. Totally 140,000 participants will be enrolled.

Interventions

In high-risk areas of upper gastrointestinal cancer, all subjects in screening group will be screened by endoscopy. In non-high-risk areas, 30% of the subjects in screening group, identified through a survey, will be screened by endoscopy.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome is the mortality caused by upper gastrointestinal cancer. The secondary outcomes include detection rate, incidence rate, survival rate, and clinical stage distribution. Additional data on quality of life and cost-effectiveness will also be collected to answer important questions regarding screening effects.

Conclusions

Screening strategy evaluated in those areas with positive findings may be promoted nationally and applied to the majority of Chinese people. On the other hand, negative findings will provide scientific evidence for abandoning a test and shifting resources elsewhere.

Trial registration

The study has been registered with the Protocol Registration System in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (identifier: ChiCTR-EOR-16008577).

Determining the cost-effectiveness of endoscopic surveillance for gastric cancer in patients with precancerous lesions

AIM

To identify the optimal strategy for gastric cancer (GC) prevention by evaluating the cost-effectiveness of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)-based preventive strategies.

METHODS

We conducted a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis. Adopting a healthcare payer's perspective, Markov models simulated the clinical experience of the target population (Singaporean Chinese 50-69 years old) undergoing endoscopic screening, endoscopic surveillance and usual care of do-nothing. The screening strategy examined the cohort every alternate year whereas the surveillance strategy provided annual EGD only to people with precancerous lesions. For each strategy, discounted lifetime costs ($) and quality adjusted life years (QALY) were estimated and compared to generate incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify influential parameters and quantify the impact of model uncertainties.

RESULTS

Annual EGD surveillance with an ICER of $34 200/QALY was deemed cost-effective for GC prevention within the Singapore healthcare system. To inform implementation, the models identified six influential factors and their respective thresholds, namely discount rate (<4.20%), age of starting surveillance (>51.6 years), proportion of program cost in delivering endoscopy (<65%), cost of follow-up EGD (<$484), utility of stage 1 GC patients (>0.72) and odds ratio of GC for high-risk subjects (>3.93). The likelihood that surveillance is the most cost-effective strategy is 69.5% accounting for model uncertainties.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic surveillance of gastric premalignancies can be a cost-effective strategy for GC prevention. Its implementation requires careful assessment on factors influencing the actual cost-effectiveness.

Quality assurance manual of endoscopic screening for gastric cancer in Japanese communities

The Japanese government introduced endoscopic screening for gastric cancer in 2015 as a public policy based on the Japanese guidelines on gastric cancer screening. To provide appropriate endoscopic screening for gastric cancer in Japanese communities, we developed a quality assurance manual of endoscopic screening and recommend 10 strategies with their brief descriptions as follows: (i) Formulation of a committee responsible for implementing and managing endoscopic screening, and for deciding the suitable implementation methods in consideration of the local context; (ii) Development of an interpretation system that leads to a final judgement to standardize endoscopic examination and improve its accuracy; (iii) Preparation of management and reporting systems for adverse effects by the committee for safety management; (iv) Obtaining informed consent before operation following adequate explanations regarding the benefits and harms of endoscopic screening; (v) Avoidance of frequent screenings to reduce false-positive results and overdiagnosis. As a reference, the target age group is ≥50 years, and the screening interval is 2 years; (vi) Keeping the biopsy rate within 10% as post-biopsy bleeding may occur. Before endoscopic screening, any history of antithrombotic drug usage should be checked; (vii) Nonadministration of sedation in endoscopic screening for safety management; (viii) Adherence to proper endoscopic cleaning and disinfection to reduce infection; (ix) Use of a checklist to achieve optimal program preparation when municipal governments introduce endoscopic screening; (x) Identification of the aims and roles by referring to a checklist if primary care physicians decide to participate in endoscopic screening.

Effectiveness evaluation of organized screening for esophageal cancer: a case-control study in Linzhou city, China

In China, esophageal cancer has remained a large burden, and endoscopic screening is expected to reduce esophageal cancer mortality. Therefore, a population-based case-control study was conducted to evaluate the effect of screening. Cases were defined as individuals who had died of esophageal cancer, and controls were residents from the same area (three per case) who had not died of esophageal cancer, matched by gender and birth year. The exposure status (whether cases and controls had ever attended the screening or not) was acquired by inspecting the well documented screening records. A conditional logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). There were 253 cases and 759 controls. The reduction in risk of esophageal cancer mortality in individuals who had ever attended screening was 47% (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37–0.77). Compared with never-screened subjects, the ORs for screened subjects within 36 and 48 months before the reference date were 0.59(0.39–0.89) and 0.59(0.40–0.87); the ORs for 50–59 year old subjects were 0.48(0.28–0.85). The results suggest a 47% reduction in esophageal cancer mortality risk due to endoscopic screening, which may have significant implications for esophageal cancer screening in China, especially in rural areas.

Prevalence of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in the community: A systematic review of studies in unselected samples of subjects

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings, such as esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, peptic ulcer, and malignancy, represent a public health problem. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in the community.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in PUBMED and EMBASE to May 2015. Studies were eligible if they reported the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in unselected samples of the community.

RESULTS

Twelve articles were eligible, nine reported data from three endoscopic surveys (n = 3063 subjects), and three from national screening programs (n = 84 153). The overall prevalence of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in the community was 30% in the Kalixanda study (Sweden), 24.9% in the Loiano-Monghidoro study (Italy), and 68.9% in the Systematic Investigation of Gastrointestinal Diseases study (China). The pooled prevalence of esophagitis, endoscopically suspected esophageal metaplasia (ESEM), peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer in all studies was 11.2, 5.1, 6.8, and 0.33%, respectively. The most frequent finding was esophagitis in Europe, with a prevalence of 15.5% in Sweden and 11.8% in Italy, and peptic ulcer in China (17.1%), both in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was positively associated with the prevalence of peptic ulcer (r = 0.91) but negatively associated with the prevalence of both esophagitis (r = -0.99) and ESEM (r = -0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings are present in at least a quarter of subjects in the community with different patterns in Western and Eastern countries, both in asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects. H. pylori prevalence negatively impacts on the prevalence of reflux-related esophageal findings.

Effectiveness of endoscopic gastric cancer screening in a rural area of Linzhou, China: results from a case-control study

In China, a large burden of gastric cancer has remained, and endoscopic screening was expected to reduce gastric cancer mortality. Therefore, a population‐based case–control study was conducted to evaluate the screening effect. The gastric cancer screening program was initiated in Linzhou in the year 2005, and endoscopic examination with indicative biopsy, for residents aged 40–69 years, was used to detect early cancer and precancerous lesion. In this study, cases were defined as individuals who had died of gastric cancer, which were selected from Linzhou Cancer Registry database. Controls were residents (six per case), who had not died of gastric cancer, from the same area as the case, and matched by gender and age (±2 years). The exposure status, whether cases and controls ever attended the screening or not, was acquired by inspecting the well‐documented screening records. Conditional logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A total of 313 cases and 1876 controls were included in our analysis. Compared with subjects who never participated in screening, the overall OR for individuals who ever participated in screening was 0.72(95% CI: 0.54–0.97). The OR for lag time 4 years or longer was 0.68(95% CI: 0.47–0.98) and the OR for those who were aged 50–59 years were 0.56 (0.37–0.85). The results suggest a 28% reduction in risk of gastric cancer mortality by endoscopic screening, which may have significant implications for gastric cancer screening in rural areas of China.

The Influence of Gastric Cancer Screening on the Stage at Diagnosis and Survival: A Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies in the Far East

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of gastric cancer screening on the stage at diagnosis and survival from disease. A systematic review of the literature between January 1995 and December 2014 was performed. Studies that compared screened versus nonscreened populations for the diagnosis of gastric cancer and included the stage at diagnosis were analyzed. The QUADAS-2 and the ROBANS tools were used to assess the quality of the studies. A total of 11 studies from the Far East comprising 4039 participants in the screened and 6635 in the nonscreened groups were included. Screening was associated with a significant increase in the detection of early gastric cancer (EGC) [pooled odds ratio (POR)=3.90; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.01-5.06; P<0.0001] and reduction in the incidence of advanced gastric cancer (POR=0.27; 95% CI, 0.20-0.35; P<0.0001). Furthermore, screening improved the 5-year survival significantly (hazard ratio=0.56; 95% CI, 0.48-0.66; P<0.0001). About 73% of the screened patients were found to have EGC compared with 43% of the nonscreened patients. About 8% of the screened patients were found to have advanced gastric cancer compared with 54% of the nonscreened patients. Screening for gastric cancer is useful in detecting asymptomatic patients with EGC in high-prevalence areas. This in turn increases the number of treatable cancers and improves the 5-year survival. There is a need for the development and the validation of alternative risk-stratification tools in low-incidence areas to allow for similar benefits.

Mortality reduction from gastric cancer by endoscopic and radiographic screening

To evaluate mortality reduction from gastric cancer by endoscopic screening, we undertook a population-based cohort study in which both radiographic and endoscopic screenings for gastric cancer have been carried out. The subjects were selected from the participants of gastric cancer screening in two cities in Japan, Tottori and Yonago, from 2007 to 2008. The subjects were defined as participants aged 40-79 years who had no gastric cancer screening in the previous year. Follow-up of mortality was continued from the date of the first screening to the date of death or up to December 31, 2013. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of gastric cancer incidence, gastric cancer death, all cancer deaths except gastric cancer death, and all-causes death except gastric cancer death. The number of subjects selected for endoscopic screening was 9950 and that for radiographic screening was 4324. The subjects screened by endoscopy showed a 67% reduction of gastric cancer compared with the subjects screened by radiography (adjusted RR by sex, age group, and resident city = 0.327; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.118-0.908). The adjusted RR of endoscopic screening was 0.968 (95%CI, 0.675-1.387) for all cancer deaths except gastric cancer death, and 0.929 (95%CI, 0.740-1.168) for all-causes death except gastric cancer death. This study indicates that endoscopic screening can reduce gastric cancer mortality by 67% compared with radiographic screening. This is consistent with previous studies showing that endoscopic screening reduces gastric cancer mortality.

Screening of gastric cancer in Asia

In North-Eastern Asian countries, where incidence and mortality of gastric cancer remain very high, population-based gastric cancer screenings have been conducted under governmental subsidy in Japan and Korea. Reduction of gastric cancer mortality by the screening was documented in Japan, but the Japanese gastric cancer screening with the X-ray photofluorography is criticized for its high cost and a low uptake rate. Although the Korean program seems to achieve a high-rate of uptake with increasing use of endoscopy, the work load is substantial. In the meantime, more attention in the world turns to primary prevention through eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Indeed, fairly large-scale studies to examine the feasibility of mass-eradication to prevent gastric cancer are underway in China and Taiwan. In the future, gastric cancer screening should incorporate 'screen to treat' of H. pylori infection at younger age followed by endoscopic surveillance for subjects at risk.

Gastric cancer screening uptake trends in Korea: results for the National Cancer Screening Program from 2002 to 2011: a prospective cross-sectional study

Although the effectiveness of mass screening for gastric cancer remains controversial, several countries with a high prevalence of gastric cancer have implemented nationwide gastric cancer screening programs. This study was conducted to assess trends in the use of either upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS) or endoscopy to screen for gastric cancer, as well as to assess factors strongly associated with changes therein, over a 10-year period. Data were obtained from the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) database from 2002 to 2011 in Korea. The NCSP provides biennial gastric cancer screening with either UGIS or endoscopy for men and women aged ≥40 years. Using the NCSP database, overall screening rates for gastric cancer and percentages of endoscopy use among participants were analyzed from 2002 to 2011. To estimate changes in participation rates and endoscopy use over time, we assessed the average annual percentage change (APC) by comparing the rates from 2002 and 2011 as relative rates. Participation rates for gastric cancer screening increased 4.33% annually from 2002 to 2011. In terms of screening method, a substantial increase in endoscopy use was noted among the gastric cancer screening participants over the 10-year period. The percentage of participants who had undergone endoscopy test increased from 31.15% in 2002 to 72.55% in 2011, whereas the percentage of participants who underwent UGIS decreased tremendously. Increased endoscopy test use was greatest among participants aged 40 to 49 (APC = 4.83%) and Medical Aid Program recipients (APC = 5.73%). Overall, men, participants of ages 40 to 49 years, and National Health Insurance beneficiaries of higher socioeconomic status were more likely to undergo screening via endoscopy. This study of nationwide empirical data from 2002 to 2011 showed that endoscopy is increasingly being used for gastric cancer screening in Korea, compared with UGIS. Nevertheless, further study of the impact of endoscopy on gastric cancer mortality is needed, and future evaluations of screening methods should take into account both cost and any associated reduction in gastric cancer mortality.

Screening for gastric cancer: the usefulness of endoscopy

Gastric cancer screening is common in countries with high prevalence rates of gastric cancer. However, data supporting the effectiveness of gastric cancer screening are lacking. Thus, the aim of this review was to examine the current evidence on gastric cancer screening. Herein, we reviewed radiographic and endoscopic tests as methods of gastric cancer screening. Previous cohort studies and case-control studies have demonstrated reduced gastric cancer mortality in study populations that had undergone gastric cancer screening with radiographic tests. Recently, a case-control study in Japan reported a 30% reduction in gastric cancer mortality when screening was undertaken via endoscopy. Also, endoscopic screening for gastric cancer exhibited higher sensitivity and specificity than radiographic screening. Moreover, most cost-effectiveness analyses on the best strategy for detecting early gastric cancer have generally concluded that endoscopy is more cost-effective than radiographic testing. Although data on the impact of endoscopy screening programs on gastric cancer mortality are limited, recent study results suggest that gastric cancer screening by endoscopy in average-risk populations performs better than radiography screening. Further evaluation of the impact of these screening methods should take into account cost and any associated reduction in gastric cancer mortality.

Efficacy of endoscopic screening in an isolated island: a case-control study

Although endoscopic screening has become more common in recent years, its efficacy in reducing the mortality from gastric cancer has not yet been demonstrated. We carried out a case-control study to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic screening in Kamigoto town, Kamigoto Island. The case group consisted of 13 patients who died of gastric cancer between 2000 and 2008, and ten controls per patient, ie. a total of 130 controls, were extracted as the control group. To clarify the relationship between participation in endoscopic screening and gastric cancer mortality, the odds ratio of death from gastric cancer in participants vs. nonparticipants of screening was calculated. The odds ratio of death from gastric cancer in participants of endoscopic screening vs. nonparticipants was 0.206 (95 % CI, 0.044-0.965; p = 0.0449). Participation in endoscopic screening within the previous 5 years decreased the risk of death from gastric cancer by 79 %. Implementation of endoscopic screening was associated with a significant reduction in mortality from gastric cancer in the small island town.

Reduction of gastric cancer mortality by endoscopic and radiographic screening in an isolated island: A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic and radiographic screening for gastric cancer.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Community in an isolated island.

PARTICIPANTS

The study involved 186 patients (131 men, 55 women) diagnosed with gastric cancer between 2000 and 2005.

INTERVENTIONS

Endoscopic and radiographic screening.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

The odds ratio of death from gastric cancer in participants versus non-participants of screening, the cumulative survival rate of the gastric cancer patients.

RESULTS

The odds ratio of death from gastric cancer in the participants versus non-participants of screening was 0.091 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.027-0.308; P < 0.0001). The cumulative survival rate of the gastric cancer patients in the screening group was higher than that in the non-screening group (P < 0.0001). In the endoscopic screening district, the odds ratio of death from gastric cancer among the participants versus non-participants of endoscopic screening was 0.117 (95% CI 0.013-1.056; P = 0.0525), while in the radiographic screening district, it was 0.086 (95% CI 0.020-0.376; P < 0.0001). The cumulative survival rates were higher in both the screening groups as compared with the non-screening group (endoscopy, P = 0.0302; radiography, P = 0.0012).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that both radiographic and endoscopic screening may prevent gastric cancer deaths.

A community-based, case-control study evaluating mortality reduction from gastric cancer by endoscopic screening in Japan

AIMS

Although the incidence of gastric cancer has decreased in the last 3 decades, it remains the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In Asian countries, the burden of gastric cancer has remained, and cancer screening is normally expected to reduce gastric cancer death. We conducted a community-based, case-control study to evaluate the reduction of mortality from gastric cancer by endoscopic screening.

METHODS

Case subjects were defined as individuals who had died of gastric cancer between 2003 and 2006 in 4 cities in Tottori Prefecture, and between 2006 and 2010 in Niigata City, Japan. Up to 6 control subjects were matched by sex, birth year (±3 years), and the residence of each corresponding case subject from the population lists in the study areas. Control subjects were required to be disease-free at the time when the corresponding case subjects were diagnosed as having gastric cancer. The odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for those who had participated in endoscopic or radiographic screening before the reference date when the case subjects were diagnosed as having gastric cancer, compared with subjects who had never participated in any screening. Conditional logistic-regression models for matched sets were used to estimate the ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The case subjects consisted of 288 men and 122 women for case subjects, with 2,292 matched control subjects. Compared with those who had never been screened before the date of diagnosis of gastric cancer in the case subjects, the ORs within 36 months from the date of diagnosis were 0.695 (95% CI: 0.489-0.986) for endoscopic screening and 0.865 (95% CI : 0.631-1.185) for radiographic screening.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest a 30% reduction in gastric cancer mortality by endoscopic screening compared with no screening within 36 months before the date of diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Recent development of gastric cancer prevention

A mass screening program using photofluorography has been used as a secondary prophylaxis of gastric cancer in Japan. However, we are at a turning point for reconsidering the strategy of gastric cancer prevention because of various problems with photofluorography. The shift from current secondary prophylaxis to primary prophylaxis is now required. After a Japanese multicenter randomized controlled trial showed that Helicobacter pylori eradication reduced the incidence of metachronous gastric cancer after endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer, primary prophylaxis of gastric cancer has gained greater attention. The combination of H. pylori eradication as a primary prophylaxis and screening as a secondary prophylaxis is necessary for the elimination of gastric cancer in Japan. The strategy of test, treat and screening for H. pylori infection is effective in reducing the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer in communities with a high incidence of gastric cancer. We have proposed a program of risk stratification based on the presence of H. pylori infection with or without atrophic gastritis followed by targeted interventions.

X-ray diagnosis of synchronous multiple primary carcinoma in the upper gastrointestinal tract

AIM: To analyze the radiological features of multiple primary carcinoma (MPC) in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, study its biological characteristics and evaluate X-ray examination in its diagnosis.

METHODS: Hypotonic double-contrast GI radiography was performed in 59 multiple primary carcinoma cases, pathologically proved by surgery or endoscopy biopsy. Radiological findings were analyzed.

RESULTS: Of the 59 cases, esophageal MPC (EMPC) was seen in 24, esophageal and gastric MPC (EGMPC) in 27 and gastric MPC (GMPC) in 8. Of the 49 lesions found in 24 EMPC, hyperplastic type was seen in 23, medullary type in 9. The lesions were located at the upper (n = 17), middle (n = 19) or lower (n = 13) segment of the esophagus. In 27 EGMPC, the esophageal lesions were located at the middle (n = 16) or lower (n = 11) segment of the esophagus, while the gastric lesions were located at the gastric cardia (n = 16), fundus (n = 1), body (n = 3) and antrum (n = 7). The esophageal lesions were mainly of the hyperplastic type (n = 12) or medullary type (n = 7), while the gastric lesions were mainly of the hyperplastic type (n = 18). A total of 119 lesions in the 59 patients with synchronous multiple carcinoma were proved by surgery or endoscopy biopsy, and preoperative upper radiographic examination detected 100 of them (84.03% sensitivity). Eighteen (52.94%) of the T₁ lesions were found during preoperative diagnosis by radiographic examination. Moreover, only 3 (3.53%) of the T_2-4 lesions were misdiagnosed.

CONCLUSION: Hypotonic double-contrast upper gastrointestinal examination, providing accurate information about lesion morphology, location and size, can serve as a sensitive technique for the preoperative diagnosis of MPC.

Comparing upper gastrointestinal X-ray and endoscopy for gastric cancer diagnosis in Korea

AIM: To compare the cost and accuracy of upper gastrointestinal (GI) X-ray and upper endoscopy for diagnosis of gastric cancer using data from the 2002-2004 Korean National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP).

METHODS: The study population included 1 503 646 participants in the 2002-2004 stomach cancer screening program who underwent upper GI X-ray or endoscopy. The accuracy of screening was defined as the probability of detecting gastric cancer. We calculated the probability by merging data from the NCSP and the Korea Central Cancer Registry. We estimated the direct costs of the medical examination and the tests for upper GI X-ray, upper endoscopy, and biopsy.

RESULTS: The probability of detecting gastric cancer via upper endoscopy was 2.9-fold higher than via upper GI X-ray. The unit costs of screening using upper GI X-ray and upper endoscopy were $32.67 and $34.89, respectively. In 2008, the estimated cost of identifying one case of gastric cancer was $53 094.64 using upper GI X-ray and $16 900.43 using upper endoscopy. The cost to detect one case of gastric cancer was the same for upper GI X-ray and upper endoscopy at a cost ratio of 1:3.7.

CONCLUSION: Upper endoscopy is slightly more costly to perform, but the cost to detect one case of gastric cancer is lower.

Counseling for male BRCA mutation carriers: a review

BRCA mutations in women confer a high risk for breast and ovarian cancers. The risks to male carriers are poorly understood and risk management strategies undescribed. This review summarizes current evidence and gives recommendations for counseling male BRCA mutation carriers. Reported risks for breast, prostate, pancreatic, gastric and hematologic cancers are higher in male BRCA mutation carriers vs non-carriers. Especially in male BRCA2 mutation carriers under age 65 prostate and pancreatic cancer risks are increased. The risk increase for primary cancers of organs like the liver, bone and brain is difficult to assess as these organs are common sites for metastases. Reports on colorectal cancer and melanoma risks are inconclusive. On the current limited evidence available, male BRCA mutation carriers should be regarded as at high risk for breast, prostate, gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancers; surveillance by appropriate investigations should start at age 40 years.