Biopsy Technique for Endoscopic Surveillance of Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer

Single-bite Versus Double-bite Technique for Mapping Biopsies During Endoscopic Surveillance of Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer: a Single Center, Randomized Controlled Trial

Germline mutation in e-cadherin gene (CDH1) is found in approximately 25% to 30% of individuals fulfilling the clinical criteria for hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). Prophylactic gastrectomy is the mainstay of the management of cases with pathogenetic CDH1 mutation. However, some individuals refuse gastrectomy and prefer to delay it for medical or psychosocial reasons. For these patients as well as for those in which a pathogenetic mutation is not found, endoscopic surveillance is recommended. The suggested endoscopic protocol involves targeted as well as 30 random biopsies, which is tedious and time-consuming . In order to save time, two specimens can be taken during a single passage of the biopsy forceps ("double-bite" technique). The aim of this study was to determine the adequacy and utility of the "double-bite" technique in patients undergoing surveillance for HDGC as compared to the standard "single-bite technique".

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Single bite biopsy technique; Other: Double bite biopsy technique

Detailed Description

Previous studies have validated endoscopy, as an efficient tool for initial screening and in selected cases surveillance of families fulfilling the clinical criteria for hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). The aim is to detect microscopic foci of in situ or intramucosal signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC), which are characteristic of early HDGC. Currently, the recommended endoscopic protocol involves targeted biopsies of any suspicious lesion as well as a minimum of 30 mapping random biopsies specimens taken from all anatomic areas of the gastric mucosa, also known as Cambridge endoscopy protocol. However this is a time-consuming and tedious process, which significantly prolongs the duration of the procedure and might reduce patient tolerance. In order to save time two specimens can be taken during a single passage of the forceps ("double-bite" technique).

In order to evaluate the adequacy and utility of the "double-bite" technique, patients undergoing surveillance for HDGC, are randomized to the single-bite vs double-bite arm. Endoscopies are performed according to a standardized protocol. Briefly, a white-light high-resolution endoscope with 85 magnification and a maximal resolution of 7.9 mm (GIF-FQ260Z; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) is used to examine all anatomic segments of the insufflated stomach. Any abnormalities on white-light endoscopy are recorded and assessed further by narrow-band imaging magnification with or without autofluorescence imaging. Targeted biopsy specimens are taken from identified lesions, and 5 random biopsy specimens are taken in each of the siz gastric anatomical areas (prepylorus, antrum, transitional zone, body, fundus, and cardia). The double-bite technique involves taking an initial biopsy, repositioning the forceps, and taking another biopsy from the same area with the initial specimen still on the forceps. The single bite technique involves removing the forceps with its specimen after each individual biopsy. Time is recorded between the first and last random biopsy. Comfort score is reported after the procedure, according to the modified Gloucester scale. The investigators use Boston Single-Use Radial Jaw™ 4 biopsy forceps with a spike. Biopsy specimens are stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff diastase and are assessed for size and presence of SRCC foci by an upper specialist GI pathologist, who have significant experience in SRCC identification. Any lesions are checked by a second pathologist within the Cambridge Pathology team before reporting. Both pathologists are blinded to study arm.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Cambridge, United Kingdom
    • MRC Cancer Unit

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients in the Familial Gastric Cancer Registry held in Cambridge fulfilling clinical criteria for HDGC.
• Patients willing to undergo at least one upper GI endoscopy with random biopsies according to Cambridge biopsy protocol.

Exclusion criteria:

• Patients who decline evaluation with endoscopy either as a screening or surveillance tool
• Patients on clopidogrel, and/or warfarin for high risk condition and unable to withhold temporarily the medication.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Single bite; The single bite technique involved removing the forceps with its specimen after each individual biopsy.	Other: Single bite biopsy technique; During biopsy collection one specimen will be retrieved during a single passage of the biopsy forceps.
Other: Double bite; The double-bite technique involved taking an initial biopsy, repositioning the forceps, and taking another biopsy from the same area with the initial specimen still on the forceps.	Other: Double bite biopsy technique; During biopsy collection two specimens will be retrieved during a single passage of the biopsy forceps.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Identification of signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) foci.	Evaluating the diagnostic yield of the double-bite technique, by means of identifying SRCC foci, in comparison to the conventional single -bite arm.	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to perform biopsy protocol.	Differences between the study arms in terms of time required for biopsy collection	1 year
Biopsy size	Differences between the study arms in terms of size of the biopsy specimens	1 year
Patients comfort	Differences between the study arms in terms of patient comfort score, during the procedure. Comfort score is reported after the procedure, according to the modified Gloucester scale. 1: No discomfort - resting comfortably throughout; 2: Minimal. One or two episodes of mild discomfort, well tolerated; 3:Mild. More than 2 episodes of discomfort, adequately tolerated; 4: Moderate. Significant discomfort experienced several times during the procedure; 5: Severe. Extreme discomfort, experienced frequently during the procedure	1 year
Dose of sedation.	Differences between the study arms in terms of dose required for sedation	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Cambridge

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• van der Post RS, Vogelaar IP, Carneiro F, Guilford P, Huntsman D, Hoogerbrugge N, Caldas C, Schreiber KE, Hardwick RH, Ausems MG, Bardram L, Benusiglio PR, Bisseling TM, Blair V, Bleiker E, Boussioutas A, Cats A, Coit D, DeGregorio L, Figueiredo J, Ford JM, Heijkoop E, Hermens R, Humar B, Kaurah P, Keller G, Lai J, Ligtenberg MJ, O'Donovan M, Oliveira C, Pinheiro H, Ragunath K, Rasenberg E, Richardson S, Roviello F, Schackert H, Seruca R, Taylor A, Ter Huurne A, Tischkowitz M, Joe ST, van Dijck B, van Grieken NC, van Hillegersberg R, van Sandick JW, Vehof R, van Krieken JH, Fitzgerald RC. Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: updated clinical guidelines with an emphasis on germline CDH1 mutation carriers. J Med Genet. 2015 Jun;52(6):361-74. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103094. Epub 2015 May 15.
• Mi EZ, Mi EZ, di Pietro M, O'Donovan M, Hardwick RH, Richardson S, Ziauddeen H, Fletcher PC, Caldas C, Tischkowitz M, Ragunath K, Fitzgerald RC. Comparative study of endoscopic surveillance in hereditary diffuse gastric cancer according to CDH1 mutation status. Gastrointest Endosc. 2018 Feb;87(2):408-418. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2017.06.028. Epub 2017 Jul 6.
• Fewings E, Larionov A, Redman J, Goldgraben MA, Scarth J, Richardson S, Brewer C, Davidson R, Ellis I, Evans DG, Halliday D, Izatt L, Marks P, McConnell V, Verbist L, Mayes R, Clark GR, Hadfield J, Chin SF, Teixeira MR, Giger OT, Hardwick R, di Pietro M, O'Donovan M, Pharoah P, Caldas C, Fitzgerald RC, Tischkowitz M. Germline pathogenic variants in PALB2 and other cancer-predisposing genes in families with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer without CDH1 mutation: a whole-exome sequencing study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Jul;3(7):489-498. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(18)30079-7. Epub 2018 Apr 27.
• Pappas A, Tan WK, Waldock W, Richardson S, Tripathi M, Januszewicz W, Roberts G, O'Donovan M, Fitzgerald RC, di Pietro M. Single-bite versus double-bite technique for mapping biopsies during endoscopic surveillance for hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: a single-center, randomized trial. Endoscopy. 2021 Mar;53(3):246-253. doi: 10.1055/a-1201-3125. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 12, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 13, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): December 13, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 13, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): May 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 20, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 17, 2019
• Last Verified: May 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Stomach Diseases; Stomach Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: FGCS protocol v.10

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No