Linked color imaging enhances endoscopic detection of sessile serrated adenoma/polyps.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Although new image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) technologies such as blue laser imaging (BLI), BLI-bright, and linked color imaging (LCI) have been developed, their utility for the detection of sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/Ps) is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of BLI, BLI-bright, and LCI for SSA/P detection in still image examinations and in a prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 6 expert and non-expert endoscopists read 200 endoscopic still images containing SSA/P lesions using white light image (WLI), BLI, BLI-bright, and LCI. Color differences were calculated using the color space method. A prospective RCT of tandem colonoscopy with WLI and LCI was performed. Patients with SSA/P and those with a history of SSA/P that had been endoscopically removed were enrolled and randomly allocated to WLI-LCI or LCI-WLI groups. Additional endoscopic detection rates for SSA/P were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: LCI showed the highest SSA/P detection rate among the 4 modes for both expert and non-expert endoscopists. The detection rate with LCI for the 6 expert endoscopists (mean 98.3 ±â€Šstandard deviation 2.0 %) was significantly higher than that with WLI (86.7 ±â€Š6.0 %, P  < 0.01). Likewise, the detection rate with LCI for the 6 non-expert endoscopists (92.3 ±â€Š2.9 %) was significantly higher than that with WLI (72.7 ±â€Š11.5 %, P  < 0.01). The color difference of SSA/P with LCI was the highest among the 4 modes, and was significantly higher than with WLI (median 15.9, (interquartile range 13.7 - 20.6) vs. 10.2, (7.6 - 14.2); P  < 0.0001). In the RCT, a total of 44 patients (WLI-LCI 22 vs. LCI-WLI 22) underwent colonoscopy. The additional detection rate for SSA/P in the second inspection in the WLI-LCI group (21.6 %, 8/37) was significantly higher than in the LCI-WLI group (3.2 %, 1/31; P  = 0.02). The small, flat, non-mucus and isochromatic SSA/Ps in the transverse colon were detected more frequently in the second inspection with LCI. CONCLUSIONS: LCI was the most sensitive mode for SSA/P detection among WLI, BLI, BLI-bright, and LCI in the still image examinations. Our RCT strongly suggests that LCI is superior to conventional WLI for SSA/P detection during colonoscopy. UMIN000017599.

A phase I/II study of fixed-dose-rate gemcitabine and S-1 with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of fixed-dose-rate gemcitabine (FDR-gem) administered concurrently with S-1 and radical radiation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and to provide efficacy and safety data. METHODS: Patients with unrespectable pancreatic cancer confined to the pancreatic region were treated with FDR-gem (300-400 mg/m(2), 5 mg/m(2)/min) on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 and 60 mg/m(2) of S-1 orally on days 1-14, 22-35. A total radiation dose of 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy/day, 28 fractions) was delivered concurrently. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were enrolled; all were evaluable for toxicity assessment. In phase I, eight patients were treated in sequential cohorts of three to five patients per dose level. The MTD was reached at level 2, and dose-limiting toxicities were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. The recommended doses were 300 mg/m(2) of gemcitabine and 60 mg/m(2) of S-1 daily. The overall response rate was 25% and disease control rate (partial response plus stable disease) was 92%. The progression-free survival was 11.0 months. The median overall survival and 1-year survival rates were 16.0 months and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The combination of FDR-gem and S-1 with radiation is a feasible regimen that shows favorable antitumor activity with an acceptable safety profile in patients with LAPC.