TUESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Early-stage cancers of the
esophagus can be treated effectively by less invasive, organ-sparing
endoscopic therapy, a new study has found.
This is good news, as esophageal cancer arising from Barrett's
esophagus is increasing in frequency faster than any other cancer in the
United States, and 90 percent of patients die within five years of being
diagnosed, according to a news release from the Mayo Clinic.
Esophageal cancer is diagnosed in its early stages about 20 percent of
the time, Dr. Ganapathy Prasad, of the department of gastroenterology and
hepatology at the Mayo Clinic and lead author on the study, published in
the September issue of Gastroenterology.
"Traditionally, esophageal cancer patients undergo a complicated
surgery to remove the esophagus," Prasad said in the news release. "Our
team compared surgery to the use of endoscopic therapy, where a scope is
inserted in the esophagus and the cancer cells are shaved off. Our results
showed the less invasive therapy was just as effective as surgery for
early-stage cancers."
The study included 178 patients with early-stage esophageal
adenocarcinoma; 132 were treated with endoscopic mucosal resection and 46
were treated surgically. The patients who underwent the less invasive
procedure -- endoscopic mucosal resection -- had a liquid injected under
the lesion and then an endoscope was used to shave off the lesions. The
other patients underwent the traditional removal of the esophagus, or
esophagectomy.
After a nine-year follow-up, both groups had an overall mortality rate
of about 20 percent. Among patients treated endoscopically, cancer
recurred in 12 percent, but recurrence could be re-treated endoscopically.
While the overall results are similar, there is no contest when the
impact on patients is compared, the study authors noted. Esophagectomy
surgery patients typically are in hospitalized for a week, and up to 50
percent of patients have complications after the surgery. In addition,
patients whose esophagus has been removed face lifelong dietary
restrictions.
On the other hand, endoscopic treatments are performed in an outpatient
setting, and patients are allowed to eat full meals within days of the
procedure, the researchers explained.
More information
Learn more about esophageal cancer from the U.S.
National Cancer Institute.
