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Background Following endoscopic resection of early-stage Barrett’s esophageal adenocarcinoma (BEA), further oncologic management then fundamentally relies upon the accurate assessment of histopathologic risk criteria, which requires there to be sufficient amounts of submucosal tissue in the resection specimens. Methods In 1685 digitized tissue sections from endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) performed for 76 early BEA cases from three experienced centers, the submucosal thickness was determined, using software developed in-house. Neoplastic lesions were manually annotated. Results No submucosa was seen in about a third of the entire resection area (mean 33.8 % [SD 17.2 %]), as well as underneath cancers (33.3 % [28.3 %]), with similar results for both resection methods and with respect to submucosal thickness. ESD results showed a greater variability between centers than EMR. In T1b cancers, a higher rate of submucosal defects tended to correlate with R1 resections. Conclusion The absence of submucosa underneath about one third of the tissue of endoscopically resected BEAs should be improved. Results were more center-dependent for ESD than for EMR. Submucosal defects can potentially serve as a parameter for standardized reports.

Background The translational interest in the intratumoral heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been increasing. The dismal prognosis of this pathology is linked to the features of the HCC harbouring cancer stem cells (CSC), represented by EpCAM-expression. However, the extent of the impact of intratumoral distribution of CSC-features, both on the recurrence after curative resection and on clinical outcome, remains unknown. To address this, we investigated the spatial heterogeneity of CSC-features with the aim of identifying the unique HCC patient subgroups amenable to adjuvant treatment. Methods We designed a tissue microarray (TMA) from patients who had received liver resection between 2011 and 2017. Tumor specimens were sampled at multiple locations (n = 3–8). EpCAM-positivity was assessed for intensity and proportion by applying a score dividing three groups: (i) negative (E−/−); (ii) heterogeneous (E−/+); and (iii) homogeneous (E+/+). The groups were further analysed with regard to time-to-recurrence (TTR) and recurrence-free-survival (RFS). Results We included 314 tumor spots from 69 patients (76.8% male, median age 66, liver cirrhosis/fibrosis 75.8%). The risk factors were alcohol abuse (26.2%), NASH (13.1%), HBV (15.5%), HCV (17.9%) and others (27.4%), representative of a typical Western cohort. E+/+ patients experienced significantly shorter TTR and RFS compared to E+/− and E−/− patients (TTR 5 vs. 19 months, p = 0.022; RFS 5 vs. 14 vs. 21 months, p = 0.016). Only homogeneous EpCAM-positivity correlated with higher AFP levels (> 400 ng/ml, p = 0.031). Conclusions Spatial heterogeneity of EpCAM-expression was markedly present in the cohort. Of note, only homogeneous EpCAM-expression correlated significantly with early recurrence, whereas heterogeneous EpCAM-expression was associated with clinical endpoints comparable to EpCAM-negativity. We identified a unique HCC subtype associated with a high risk of tumor recurrence.

Background and aimsEndoscopic resection has been established as curative therapy for superficial cancer arising from Barrett’s oesophagus (BE); recurrences are very rare. Based on a case series with unusual and massive early recurrences, we analyse the issue of tumour cell reimplantation.MethodsThis hypothesis was developed on the basis of two out of seven patients treated by circumferential (n=6) or nearly circumferential (n=1) en bloc and R0 endoscopic resection of T1 neoplastic BE. Subsequently, a prospective histocytological analysis of endoscope channels and accessories was performed in 2 phases (cytohistological analysis; test for cell viability) in 22 different oesophageal carcinoma patients undergoing endoscopy. Finally, cultures from two oesophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines were incubated with different triamcinolone concentrations (0.625–10 mg/mL); cell growth was determined on a Multiwell plate reader.ResultsCancer regrowth in the two suspicious cases (male, 78/71 years) occurred 7 and 1 months, respectively, after curative tumour resection. Subsequent surgery showed advanced tumours (T2) with lymph node metastases; one patient died. On cytohistological examinations of channels and accessories, suspicious/neoplastic cells were found in 4/10 superficial and in all 5 advanced cancers. Further analyses in seven further advanced adenocarcinoma cases showed viable cells in two channel washing specimens. Finally, cell culture experiments demonstrated enhanced tumour cell growth by triamcinolone after 24 hours compared with controls.ConclusionsTumour cell reimplanation from contaminated endoscopes and accessories is a possible cause of local recurrence after curative endoscopic therapy for superficial Barrett carcinoma; also, corticosteroid injection could have promoted tumour regrowth in these cases.

The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measured by transient elastography allows for the noninvasive assessment of hepatic steatosis. However, discrepant results between CAP values and histological evaluation have been reported in particular with high CAP values. We therefore investigated the diagnostic validity of high CAP measurements.Forty patients with liver disease and CAP measurements 300 dB/m that underwent ultrasound-guided or minilaparoscopic liver biopsy were retrospectively enrolled. CAP values were compared with the respective histological and macroscopic evaluation and correlated with clinical parameters.CAP values 300 dB/m had an 87.5 % specificity for detection of hepatic steatosis but failed to discriminate between steatosis grade S1 - S3. Discordant results, defined as a discrepancy of at least 2 steatosis grades between transient elastography and liver biopsy, were observed in 40 % of cases. The interquartile range (IQR) of CAP was confirmed as a predictor of discrepant findings. Macroscopic evaluation as part of minilaparoscopy detected hepatic steatosis in 74 % of patients with histological grade S2 - S3 in contrast to only 10 % classified as histological grade S0 - S1.High CAP measurements need to be interpreted with care and with regard to clinical parameters, in particular when high IQR values are registered.ZIEL: Der durch transiente Elastografie gemessene Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) ermöglicht die nicht-invasive Beurteilung der Steatosis hepatis. Insbesondere im Falle hoher CAP-Werte wurden jedoch abweichende Ergebnisse zwischen CAP-Werten und histologischer Untersuchung berichtet. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, die diagnostische Gültigkeit hoher CAP-Messungen zu untersuchen.40 Patienten mit Lebererkrankung und CAP-Messungen 300 dB/m sowie sonografisch gesteuerter oder minilaparoskopischer Leberbiopsie wurden retrospektiv eingeschlossen. Die CAP-Werte wurden mit den jeweiligen histologischen und makroskopischen Beurteilungen verglichen sowie mit klinischen Parametern korreliert.CAP-Werte 300 dB/m wiesen eine Spezifität von 87,5 % für den Nachweis einer Steatosis hepatis auf, konnten jedoch zwischen den Steatosegraden S1 – S3 nicht unterscheiden. Diskordante Ergebnisse, definiert als eine Diskrepanz von mindestens zwei Steatosegraden zwischen transienter Elastografie und Leberbiopsie, wurden in 40 % der Fälle beobachtet. Der Interquartilsabstand der CAP-Messung wurde als Prädiktor für diskrepante Befunde bestätigt. Die makroskopische Beurteilung im Rahmen einer Minilaparoskopie lieferte in 74 % der Patienten mit histologischer Steatosis S2 – S3 vs. 10 % der Patienten mit histologischer Steatosis S0 – S1 Hinweise auf eine vorliegende Steatosis hepatis.Hohe CAP-Messungen müssen insbesondere im Falle ebenfalls erhöhter IQR-Werte sorgfältig und in Zusammenschau mit den klinischen Parametern bewertet werden.