Microwave-Based Colonoscopy: Preclinical Evaluation in an Ex Vivo Human Colon Model

Introduction: Microwave imaging can obtain 360° anatomical and functional images of the colon representing the existing contrast in dielectric properties between different tissues. Microwaves are safe (nonionizing) and have the potential of reducing the visualization problems of conventional colonoscopy. This study assessed the efficacy of a microwave-based colonoscopy device to detect neoplastic lesions in an ex vivo human colon model. Methods: Fresh surgically excised colorectal specimens containing cancer or polyps were fixed to a 3D positioning system, and the accessory device was introduced horizontally inside the ex vivo colon lumen and moved along it simulating a real colonoscopy exploration. Measurements of the colon were taken every 4 mm with the microwave-based colonoscopy device and processed with a microwave imaging algorithm. Results: 14 ex vivo human colorectal specimens with carcinomas (n = 11) or adenomas with high grade dysplasia (n = 3) were examined with a microwave-based device. Using a detection threshold of 2.79 for the dielectric property contrast, all lesions were detected without false positives or false negatives. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the use of a microwave-based device to be used as an accessory of a standard colonoscope to detect neoplastic lesions in surgically excised colorectal specimens

In vivo computer-aided diagnosis of colorectal polyps using white light endoscopy

Background and study aims Artificial intelligence is currently able to accurately predict the histology of colorectal polyps. However, systems developed to date use complex optical technologies and have not been tested in vivo. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new deep learning-based optical diagnosis system, ATENEA, in a real clinical setting using only high-definition white light endoscopy (WLE) and to compare its performance with endoscopists. Methods ATENEA was prospectively tested in real life on consecutive polyps detected in colorectal cancer screening colonoscopies at Hospital Clínic. No images were discarded, and only WLE was used. The in vivo ATENEA's prediction (adenoma vs non-adenoma) was compared with the prediction of four staff endoscopists without specific training in optical diagnosis for the study purposes. Endoscopists were blind to the ATENEA output. Histology was the gold standard. Results Ninety polyps (median size: 5 mm, range: 2-25) from 31 patients were included of which 69 (76.7 %) were adenomas. ATENEA correctly predicted the histology in 63 of 69 (91.3 %, 95 % CI: 82 %-97 %) adenomas and 12 of 21 (57.1 %, 95 % CI: 34 %-78 %) non-adenomas while endoscopists made correct predictions in 52 of 69 (75.4 %, 95 % CI: 60 %-85 %) and 20 of 21 (95.2 %, 95 % CI: 76 %-100 %), respectively. The global accuracy was 83.3 % (95 % CI: 74%-90 %) and 80 % (95 % CI: 70 %-88 %) for ATENEA and endoscopists, respectively. Conclusion ATENEA can accurately be used for in vivo characterization of colorectal polyps, enabling the endoscopist to make direct decisions. ATENEA showed a global accuracy similar to that of endoscopists despite an unsatisfactory performance for non-adenomatous lesions

Rectal Aberrant Crypt Foci in Humans Are Not Surrogate Markers for Colorectal Cancer Risk

NTRODUCTION: Over the past 20 years, aberrant crypt foci (ACF) have emerged as potential precursors and biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, data regarding their molecular pathogenesis, as well as their endoscopic and histological identification, remain inconsistent. METHODS: A wide cohort of ACF from 100 control subjects and 100 case patients, including patients with adenoma and CRC, were characterized for endoscopic, morphologic, and molecular features. RESULTS: We observed that among all the endoscopic features evaluated, only the number of large ACF correlated with CRC risk (P = 0.003), whereas the histological classification, as assessed by 2 different pathologists, was inconsistent and did not differ between control and case patients. Moreover, only a few APC and BRAF mutations and no microsatellite instability were detected in our samples. KRAS mutations were detected in 16.3% of ACF samples, which also exhibited increased MGMT hypermethylation. However, none of those events were found to be predictive of CRC risk. DISCUSSION: Although ACF might be preneoplastic lesions of the colon, they are not suitable biomarkers for assessing CRC progression

Accuracy of colon capsule endoscopy in detecting colorectal polyps in individuals with familial colorectal cancer: could we avoid colonoscopies?

Background. Individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) have an increased risk of CRC. We evaluated the diagnostic yield of CCE in the detection of lesions and also two different colon preparations. Methods. A prospective multicenter study was designed to assess CCE diagnostic yield in a cohort of asymptomatic individuals with a family history of CRC. CCE and colonoscopy were performed on the same day by 2 endoscopists who were blinded to the results of the other procedure. Results. Fifty-three participants were enrolled. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of CCE for detecting advanced adenomas were 100%, 98%, 67%, and 100%. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of CCE for the diagnosis of individuals with polyps were 87%, 97%, 93%, and 88%, respectively. CCE identify 100% of individuals with significant or advanced lesions. Overall cleanliness was adequate by 60.7% of them. The PEG-ascorbic boost seems to improve colon cleanliness, with similar colonic transit time. Conclusion. CCE is a promising tool, but it has to be considered as an alternative technique in this population in order to reduce the number of colonoscopies performed. More studies are needed to understand appropriate screening follow-up intervals and optimize the bowel preparation regimen

Colon capsule endoscopy versus CT colonography in FIT-positive colorectal cancer screening subjects: a prospective randomised trial-the VICOCA study

Background: Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) and CT colonography (CTC) are minimally invasive techniques for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Our objective is to compare CCE and CTC for the identification of patients with colorectal neoplasia among participants in a CRC screening programme with positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT). Primary outcome was to compare the performance of CCE and CTC in detecting patients with neoplastic lesions. Methods: The VICOCA study is a prospective, single-centre, randomised trial conducted from March 2014 to May 2016; 662 individuals were invited and 349 were randomised to CCE or CTC before colonoscopy. Endoscopists were blinded to the results of CCE and CTC. Results: Three hundred forty-nine individuals were included: 173 in the CCE group and 176 in the CTC group. Two hundred ninety individuals agreed to participate: 147 in the CCE group and 143 in the CTC group. In the intention-toscreen analysis, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for the identification of individuals with colorectal neoplasia were 98.1%, 76.6%, 93.7% and 92.0% in the CCE group and 64.9%, 95.7%, 96.8% and 57.7% in the CTC group. In terms of detecting significant neoplastic lesions, the sensitivity of CCE and CTC was 96.1% and 79.3%, respectively. Detection rate for advanced colorectal neoplasm was higher in the CCE group than in the CTC group (100% and 93.1%, respectively; RR = 1.07; p = 0.08). Both CCE and CTC identified all patients with cancer. CCE detected more patients with any lesion than CTC (98.6% and 81.0%, respectively; RR = 1.22; p = 0.002). Conclusion: Although both techniques seem to be similar in detecting patients with advanced colorectal neoplasms, CCE is more sensitive for the detection of any neoplastic lesion

Multiple sporadic colorectal cancers display a unique methylation phenotype.

Epigenetics are thought to play a major role in the carcinogenesis of multiple sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC). Previous studies have suggested concordant DNA hypermethylation between tumor pairs. However, only a few methylation markers have been analyzed. This study was aimed at describing the epigenetic signature of multiple CRC using a genome-scale DNA methylation profiling. We analyzed 12 patients with synchronous CRC and 29 age-, sex-, and tumor location-paired patients with solitary tumors from the EPICOLON II cohort. DNA methylation profiling was performed using the Illumina Infinium HM27 DNA methylation assay. The most significant results were validated by Methylight. Tumors samples were also analyzed for the CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP); KRAS and BRAF mutations and mismatch repair deficiency status. Functional annotation clustering was performed. We identified 102 CpG sites that showed significant DNA hypermethylation in multiple tumors with respect to the solitary counterparts (difference in β value ≥0.1). Methylight assays validated the results for 4 selected genes (p = 0.0002). Eight out of 12(66.6%) multiple tumors were classified as CIMP-high, as compared to 5 out of 29(17.2%) solitary tumors (p = 0.004). Interestingly, 76 out of the 102 (74.5%) hypermethylated CpG sites found in multiple tumors were also seen in CIMP-high tumors. Functional analysis of hypermethylated genes found in multiple tumors showed enrichment of genes involved in different tumorigenic functions. In conclusion, multiple CRC are associated with a distinct methylation phenotype, with a close association between tumor multiplicity and CIMP-high. Our results may be important to unravel the underlying mechanism of tumor multiplicity

Utilidad de la ultrasonografía endoscópica y de la punción guiada por ultrasonografía endoscópica en el diagnóstico y estadificación de pacientes con neoplasias digestivas y pulmonares

[spa] La ultrasonografía endoscópica (USE) combina la endoscopia con la ecografía para conseguir imágenes ecográficas de 360º desde el interior del tubo digestivo. Ello permite una muy buena visualización de las diferentes capas de la pared y de las estructuras de vecindad. Por otro lado, existe un ecoendoscopio sectorial que permite introducir una aguja por el canal operativo y realizar la punción con aguja fina guiada por USE en tiempo real desde el interior del tubo digestivo y obtener material citológico para el diagnóstico (USE-PAAF). Asi pues, la USE y la USE-PAAF constituyen unas técnicas idóneas para estudiar el engrosamiento de los pliegues gástricos, explorar tanto las lesiones focales como la patología difusa del páncreas, y realizar la estadificación locoregional de los tumores digestivos asi como para la obtención de material para el diagnóstico citológico. A pesar de la conocida utilidad de la USE y USE-PAAF en Oncología, existen patologías de difícil manejo clínico en los que el rendimiento de esta técnica no ha sido evaluado adecuadamente. Además, tampoco se han analizado cuáles son las circunstancias que permiten obtener un mayor rendimiento de la USE-PAAF. Por otro lado, la combinación de una técnica diagnóstica novedosa como es la USE-PAAF con los métodos de biología molecular podría suponer un verdadero avance en el diagnóstico de las neoplasias digestivas y pulmonares.La presente Tesis Doctoral está constituida por cuatro trabajos originales encaminados a resolver estas cuestiones y cuyos resultados permiten extraer las siguientes conclusiones:1. El engrosamiento de las capas profundas de la pared gástrica (submucosa y/o muscular) es el único criterio endosonográfico independiente predictivo de malignidad en pacientes con pliegues gástricos engrosados y biopsias negativas. 2. Utilizando este criterio, la USE es una técnica muy precisa y con un importante impacto clínico en el manejo de este grupo de pacientes. 3. En los pacientes referidos para USE-PAAF, esta técnica aumenta significativamente el porcentaje de diagnósticos correctos en cuanto a benignidad y malignidad con respecto a la USE, en especial en adenopatías y lesiones quísticas. 4. La localización intraparietal de la lesión es el único factor asociado a una mayor probabilidad de obtener un diagnóstico incorrecto por USE-PAAF. 5. La presencia de un patólogo en la sala de exploración aumenta el rendimiento de la USE-PAAF al reducir el número de pases necesarios para obtener un diagnóstico correcto y es una estrategia coste-eficaz.6. Es posible efectuar el análisis mutacional del gen KRAS en el material obtenido por USE-PAAF, con una elevada rentabilidad. 7. La citología convencional es la estrategia más precisa para el diagnóstico del cáncer de páncreas, pudiendo el análisis molecular incrementar su rendimiento en los pocos casos en los que la primera no es diagnóstica. 8. Es posible detectar la presencia de micrometástasis ganglionares mediante determinación de patrones de metilación aberrante en material obtenido por USE-PAAF.9. La combinación de este análisis con la citología convencional puede ser una aproximación útil en el diagnóstico de extensión de los pacientes con neoplasias digestivas y pulmonares.[eng] Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) consists in a high-frequency transducer placed at the tip of an endoscope. This technique permits to obtain high-resolution transmural sonographic images of the intestinal wall and surrounding structures. Moreover, it is possible to obtain cytological material from lesions located around the intestinal wall by means of FNA guided by EUS. EUS and EUS-FNA have become well-established procedures for diagnosing and staging both gastrointestinal and lung cancer as well as to study the pancreas. The aims of the present Doctoral Thesis were:1) to assess the predictive variables of malignancy in EUS, and the impact of EUS in patients with large gastric folds at endoscopy and endoscopic biopsies negative for malignancy; 2) To evaluate factors that permit to obtain a correct diagnosis by EUS-FNA and to establish the usefulness of disposing of an attendant pathologist; 3) To establish the usefulness of KRAS mutational analysis in the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by comparing this technique with conventional cytology in aspirates obtained by means of EUS-FNA; and, 4) to evaluate whether hypermethylation gene promoter analysis was feasible on samples obtained by EUS-FNA from lymph nodes, as well as to establish the usefulness of this strategy for the detection of micrometastases in patients with gastrointestinal and non-small cell lung cancer.Results obtained permitted to conclude that: 1) the enlargement of deep layers is the only independent predictive factor for malignancy in patients with large gastric folds at endoscopy and biopsies negative for malignancy and that EUS has a high clinical impact in these patients; 2) The availability of an attendant pathologist seems to increase the diagnostic yield of the FNA, minimizing the number of passes and resulting in a cost-effective strategy. In absence of on-site evaluation the number of passes to perform should be 3 to 4 depending on the type of lesion; 3) Cytology from aspirates obtained by EUS-FNA is the most precise single technique for the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, when adequate specimens are not available to reach a cytological diagnosis, the addition of KRAS mutational analysis represents the best strategy; and, 4) It is feasible to detect occult neoplastic cells in EUS-FNA samples by hypermethylation gene promoter analysis. Moreover, addition of methylation analysis to conventional cytology may increase its sensitivity at the expenses of a decrease in its specificity

Magnetic resonance for assessment of disease activity and severity in ileocolonic Crohn's disease.

Assessment of disease extension and activity is crucial to guide treatment in Crohn’s disease. The objective of the current cross-sectional study was to determine the accuracy of MR for this assessment..