Fluorescence Image Guided Foregut Surgery (FOREGUT)

April 29, 2025 updated by: IHU Strasbourg

Prospective Study on the Contribution of Fluorescence in the Guidance of Lymphadenectomy and in Peroperative Evaluation of Pre-anastomotic Tissue Perfusion in Laparoscopic Esogastric Oncologic Resections

A high number of resected lymph nodes is an independent prognostic factor for improved survival after esophagectomy or gastrectomy for cancer. The quality of the lymphadenectomy is operator-dependent, as is the evaluation of the vascularization of the digestive structures that are anastomosed to restore digestive continuity after esophago-gastric resection. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of Indocyanine Green (ICG) and near infra-red (NIR) fluorescence imaging guidance in terms of number of lymph nodes resected and quality of gastrointestinal tract anastomoses in esophagogastric cancer surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

In cancer surgery, an oncological resection involves the resection of the primary lesion but also of the loco-regional lymph nodes.In the large retrospective study of the Global Group of esophageal cancer collaboration (WECC) involving 3,572 patients having had resection of the main tumor (60% adenocarcinomas, 40% squamous cell carcinomas), a high total number of resected lymph nodes has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor of improved survival after esophagectomy for esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer. The maximum survival at 5 years is modulated by the T classification: it is recommended to resect 10 lymph nodes for a "pT1" stage tumor (pathologic tumor stage 1), 20 for a "pT2" stage and at least 30 for a "pT3" / "T4" stage. This number is important in terms of staging, the decision of adjuvant treatments and prognostic. A recent European study showed that the average number of resected lymph nodes was 20. In addition, lymphatic drainage is variable according to the type and location of tumors, involving an adapted lymphadenectomy strategy to each situation.

Also in gastric cancer, a complete resection (R0) and adequate lymphadenectomy are predictive factors for healing and long-term survival. Lymphadenectomy is adapted to the type, stage and location of the primary lesion.

In the U.S., the National Cancer Network guidelines recommend a D2 lymphadenectomy or a minimum of 15 lymph nodes (Lymph Node, LN) recovered.However, most international guidelines consider the recovery of only 15 LNs is insufficient. A recent Korean study on more than 25,000 patients showed that the maximum survival advantage is observed by performing a lymphadenectomy with a minimum of 29 LNs recovered. The experience of Western surgeons is much less than that of surgeons in Asia, and it seems obvious that an intraoperative guidance method would be a major support for the decision making in real time and thus remove the current variability related to the level of experience of the surgeon.

In addition, oncology surgery includes in the vast majority of cases a resection of an segment of the digestive tract and requires the restoration of digestive continuity by simple anastomosis and/or by interposition of another intestinal segment.

This stage of the surgical procedure is critical, since any anastomotic leakage is burdened with a risk of complication sometimes lethal. The surgeon's experience, which allows him to evaluate visually the vascularization of the tissue to be anastomosed, is therefore fundamental to prevent the problems.

In esogastric surgery, anastomotic leaks are associated with increased postoperative morbidity, an extended stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a longer overall hospital stay,reduced quality of life and, in the context of cancer, shortened cancer-specific survival.

Several studies have identified risk factors for anastomotic leakage, such as chemoradiotherapy, surgical technique, smoking, diabetes, and the location of the anastomosis. These factors may compromise the perfusion of the replacement conduit after esophagectomy and gastrectomy and increase the risk of anastomotic leakage. Objective assessment of tissue perfusion could be an excellent tool to identify ischemia of the conduits and thus reduce the incidence of anastomotic leaks. A perfusion compromise of the proximal portion of the gastric conduit, used for the recovery of the digestive continuity after esophagectomy, has been identified as one of the risk factors of digestive fistula.

It is therefore obvious that at the present time, for curative cancer resection or reconstruction after esogastric resection surgery, the outcome of the treatment depends mainly on the surgeon's experience and perception of the surgical field.

Today, the development of specific fluorescence imaging devices enables the surgeons to visualize tumors and vascular and lymphatic structures. This technology is expected to increase the reproducibility of esogastric surgery and its results.

The proposed study is based on the hypothesis that Fluorescence Image Guided Surgery (FIGS) would improve the quality and reproducibility of esophageal and stomach oncology surgery (lymphadenectomy and complete resection), as well as to decrease the risk of anastomotic complications after resective surgery of the esophagus or part or all of the stomach (study of the vascularization).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • France
      • Strasbourg, France, 67000
        • Recruiting
        • Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, NHC
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Man or woman over 18 years old.
  • Patient with resectable primitive esophageal or gastric cancer confirmed by biopsy without distant metastases
  • Patient with no contraindications to anaesthesia and performance of esophageal and/or gastric surgery
  • Patient able to receive and understand information related to the study and give written informed consent.
  • Patient affiliated to the French social security system.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient undergoing emergency surgery (hemorrhage, occlusion or perforation).
  • Presence of distant metastasis
  • Patient at risk of allergy to indocyanine green or to other fluorescent compounds
  • Pregnant or lactating patient.
  • Patient in exclusion period (determined by a previous or a current study).
  • Patient under the protection of justice.
  • Patient under guardianship or trusteeship.
  • Patient deprived of liberty

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: NIR Fluorescence guided lymphadenectomy and anastomosis
Procedure: Near Infra-Red Fluorescence Guided Surgery
ICG injection around tumor each four direction by endoscopy followed by NIR fluorescence guidance laparoscopic or robotic esophagectomy or gastrectomy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluation of the usefulness of ICG fluorescence to guide lymphadenectomy in oncological esogastric resections
Time Frame: During the surgical procedure
Additional detection (YES-NO) of lymph nodes after activation of the NIR fluorescence guidance system during lymphadenectomy.
During the surgical procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluation of the impact of fluorescence guidance on the number of resected lymph nodes in oncological esogastric resections
Time Frame: 7 days after operation when pathologic result was reported
Number of lymph nodes, counted in anatomopathological analysis, obtained after fluorescence-guided lymphadenectomy in the esogastric oncology resections compared to historical data
7 days after operation when pathologic result was reported
Evaluation of the impact of fluorescence guidance in intraoperative evaluation of pre-anastomotic tissue perfusion
Time Frame: 30 days after operation
Anastomotic fistula rate after fluorescence control of pre-anastomotic vascularisation in oncological esogastric resections compared to historical data
30 days after operation

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

IHU Strasbourg

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Silvana PERRETTA, MD, PhD, Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, NHC, Strasbourg

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 28, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 28, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

February 2, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 1, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 29, 2025

Last Verified

April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 20-003

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

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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