Background and Aims
Esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN) has a significant risk for progression to
cancer. Current treatment options, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or submucosal
dissection (ESD), have their limitations. The cryoballoon focal ablation system (CbFAS)
is a novel endoscopic ablation therapy device. We aimed to assess the safety, tolerability,
and efficacy of CbFAS for eradication of ESCN.
Methods
In this single-center prospective trial in China, patients with 1 flat unstained lesion
(USL) on Lugol chromoendoscopy that contained moderate- or high-grade intraepithelial
neoplasia (MGIN or HGIN, respectively) were enrolled. CbFAS was performed using side-by-side
applications of 10 seconds, treatment was repeated at 3-month intervals until a complete
response (CR) was established. The response at 12 months was the primary trial endpoint.
Safety phone calls were performed at 2, 7, and 30 days after the initial CbFAS.
Results
We enrolled 80 patients (59 MGIN, 21 HGIN) with a median USL length of 3 cm (interquartile
range [IQR], 3-4). Seventy-nine received treatment, with a median of 5 side-by-side
applications (IQR, 4-7) per patient over a median of 8 minutes (IQR, 5-10). After
a single treatment, 70 of 78 patients (90%) exhibited CR, and 1 was lost to follow-up.
The other 8 with persisting USLs were retreated, and all achieved CR after this second
treatment. At 12 months after the initial CbFAS, 76 of 78 patients (97%) exhibited
CR and 2 (3%) had recurrent MGIN. No strictures or serious adverse events occurred.
Four patients developed self-limiting mucosal lacerations on balloon inflation. The
postprocedure median pain score was 1 of 10 (IQR, 0-2) at day 2 and 0 (0-0) at days
7 and 30.
Conclusions
The results suggest that the CbFAS is safe, well tolerated, and effective in inducing
endoscopic and histologic remission in patients with ESCN of limited size. (Clinical
trial registration number: NCT02605759.)
Abbreviations:
CbFAS (cryoballoon focal ablation system), CR (complete response), ESCC (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma), ESCN (esophageal squamous cell neoplasia), ESD (endoscopic submucosal dissection), HGIN (high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia), IQR (interquartile range), LGIN (low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia), MGIN (moderate-grade intraepithelial neoplasia), RFA (radiofrequency ablation), TA (treatment area), USL (unstained lesion)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 25, 2019
Accepted:
March 3,
2019
Received:
November 5,
2018
Footnotes
DISCLOSURE: All authors received research support from C2 Therapeutics, Inc. This study was also supported by the National Key R&D Program of China and CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (Dr Ke).
If you would like to chat with an author of this article, you may contact Dr Ke at [email protected]
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- The Ice Age reborn?Gastrointestinal EndoscopyVol. 90Issue 2
- PreviewEsophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) being the dominant variety, particularly in developing countries.1 In China, where up to half of all cases occur, ESCC is the fourth leading cause of cancer death.2 Given the high prevalence of this disease in North Central China, an endoscopic screening program has been initiated in this high-risk region, with resultant decreases in cumulative incidence and ESCC-related death.
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