Outcomes of Endoscopically Resected High-risk Mucosal and Low- and High-risk Submucosal Adenocarcinoma Arising in Barrett's Esophagus

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has increased six-fold over the last three decades, making it the most rapidly rising cancer in the Western world. The main histologic risk factor for development of EAC is the presence of Barrett's esophagus (BE). BE can develop from non-dysplastic BE, to low (LGD) and high grade dysplasia (HGD) and, eventually, EAC. The past two decades minimally invasive endoscopic resection (ER) has replaced surgical esophagectomy as first-choice therapy for the treatment of early neoplastic lesions in Barrett's esophagus. ER provides adequate tissue specimens, allowing for accurate histopathological staging of a lesion, by assessment of invasion depth, differentiation grade, presence of lympho-vascular invasion (LVI), and radicality of the resection. Endoscopic resection thus similarly fulfils a diagnostic and therapeutic role in the management of Barrett's neoplasia. However, ER offers local treatment and does not include lymph node dissection as is still standard of care during esophagectomy. Therefore, the choice to perform endoscopic follow-up after a radical ER of an early EAC, or to refer a patient for additional surgery, is guided by the assumed risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). Data from previous studies show that the risk of LNM is only 1% in patients with low risk mucosal EAC after endoscopic treatment (i.e., infiltration depth limited to the mucosa, G1-G2, without LVI), and \<2% in low risk submucosal EAC (i.e., infiltration depth \<500μm, good to moderate differentiation grade (G1-G2), without LVI). In high risk submucosal EAC (i.e., infiltration depth ≥500 μm, and/or G3-G4, and/or LVI), the LNM risk is estimated to be much higher (16-44%). Nevertheless, these numbers are mainly based on old surgical series. Current data is limited in terms of small and heterogeneous patient cohorts, and data for patients with high risk T1a EAC is not available at all. Therefore, we would like to conduct an international multicenter retrospective cohort study in \>10 centers to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic treatment and follow-up of patients with high risk mucosal and submucosal EAC. Our main focus will be the presence of lymph node metastasis and EAC related death. Aim of this registration study is to collect data of the above-mentioned group of patients and thereby assess lymph node metastasis rate, disease-specific mortality, and overall mortality. This study will be conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and in accordance with the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO), the Medical Treatment Contracts Act (WGBO) and the Dutch Personal Data Protection Act (WBP). The investigators will perform the study in accordance with this protocol and will make sure that participants do not object to using their data. Collection, recording, and reporting of data will be accurate and will ensure the privacy, health, and welfare of research subjects during and after the study.