Effectiveness of Risk-based Sequential Screening for Esophageal and Gastric Cancer — ERSS-EGC  

Gastric Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: Effectiveness of Risk-based Sequential Screening for Esophageal and Gastric Cancer: A Community-Based Randomized Controlled Trial

Status Not yet recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

To evaluate the feasibility, applicability, effectiveness, and health-economic value of the risk-based sequential screening modality for esophageal and gastric cancers, the investigators aim to initiate a community-based randomized controlled trial in Xun County, Henan Province, which is a high-risk region of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) in northern China.

A total of 258 target villages from all the 11 communities (townships and streets) in Xun County will be randomly selected and assigned to the sequential screening group and the universal screening group at a ratio of 2:1 and the total sample size will be 21,000.

In the sequential screening group, participants in the top 50% risk level (i.e., stratified as the high-risk subgroup) will be offered a standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopic screening. In contrast, all participants in the universal screening group will receive the endoscopic examination. The surveillance strategy for participants with screening-detected premalignant lesions in the sequential screening group will be tailored based on individualized risk assessment using endoscopic characteristics, pathological diagnosis, and biomarkers. Surveillance for participants in the universal screening group will adhere to current guidelines for UGIC screening and clinical treatment.

Detection rates of upper gastrointestinal malignant lesions, early-stage malignant lesions and premalignant lesions, and health-economic indicators such as the unit cost per detected malignant lesions will be compared between the two groups.

Clinical Trial Description

A series of challenges have arisen for the current UGIC screening modality in China, including high screening costs, low detection rates, delayed and unstandardized treatment, and lack of sustainability and scalability. These challenges significantly hinder the normalization and high-quality implementation of UGIC prevention and control efforts. The precision shift in the screening modality is expected to result in substantial savings in medical resources while maximizing the identification and management of high-risk populations.

The investigators aim to initiate a community-based randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of risk-based sequential screening for esophageal and gastric cancer (ERSS-EGC trial) in Xun County of Henan Province, which is a high-risk region of UGIC in northern China.

According to the baseline data obtained from our prior UGIC screening program conducted in the same region (He et al., Gut, 2019), the detection rate of upper gastrointestinal malignant lesions in the targeted population (aged 50-69 years) in the universal screening group is estimated to be 1.1%. It is assumed that the implementation of sequential screening will increase this detection rate by 70%, indicating an expected detection rate of 1.9% for upper gastrointestinal malignant lesions in the sequential screening group. Ultimately, a total of 7,674 endoscopies (with 3,837 in each group) will be required to achieve a statistical power of 80% at a one-sided significance level of 2.5%.

Based on the estimated population coverage determined by sample size, a total of 258 target villages from all the 11 communities (townships and streets) in Xun County will be randomly selected, stratified by townships and streets. These 258 target villages will be randomly assigned to either the sequential screening group or the universal screening group at a ratio of 2:1, based on the population size of each village and stratified by region (urban and rural areas). This results in 172 villages in the sequential screening group and 86 villages in the universal screening group. Approximately 21,000 permanent residents aged 50 to 69 residing in the target villages will be enrolled in the trial.

All enrolled eligible participants will receive an epidemiological questionnaire investigation (collecting data on basic information, dietary habits, environmental exposure, family history, symptoms, quality of life, etc.), and a physical examination.

In the sequential screening group, all enrolled participants will be offered a risk assessment for esophageal and gastric malignancies based on two questionnaire-based diagnostic models (Liu et al., Cancers, 2022, 14(23):5945; Zheng et al., Chin Med J (Engl), 2024). Participants identified as "high-risk" (i.e., with a top 50% risk level) for esophageal and/or gastric malignancy will receive the standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Standardized diagnosis and treatment recommendations will be provided to patients with screening-detected malignant lesions, and green referral channels will be established for them. For participants with screening-detected premalignant lesions, the risk of progression will be evaluated based on endoscopic characteristics, pathological diagnosis, and biomarkers. Individualized reexamination and surveillance will be implemented accordingly.

In the universal screening group, all enrolled participants will receive the same standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as those in the sequential screening group, irrespective of the results of the risk assessment. Standardized diagnosis and treatment recommendations will be provided to patients with screening-detected malignant lesions, and green referral channels will be established for them. For participants with screening-detected premalignant lesions, the reexamination and surveillance will be performed according to the current guidelines for UGIC screening and clinical treatment.

The primary outcome of this study is the detection rate of upper gastrointestinal (esophageal/gastric) malignant lesions. The secondary outcomes include the rate of early-stage upper gastrointestinal (esophageal/gastric) malignant lesions, detection rate of upper gastrointestinal (esophageal/gastric) premalignant lesions, response rate of endoscopic examination, total screening costs, unit cost per detected upper gastrointestinal malignant lesions, unit cost per detected early-stage upper gastrointestinal malignant lesions, unit cost per detected upper gastrointestinal premalignant lesions, satisfaction of project executors and participants, rate of timely treatment, UGIC-specific mortality, all-cause mortality, and quality of life.

Through a comprehensive comparison with the universal screening, this trial will provide high-level evidence regarding the feasibility, applicability, effectiveness, and health-economic value of the sequential screening modality. Furthermore, it could effectively facilitate standardized diagnosis and treatment for screening-detected patients, providing crucial practical experience and scientific evidence for the reform and development of secondary prevention strategies for UGIC in China. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Esophageal Cancer
• Gastric Cancer
• Risk Stratification
• Stomach Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT06306755
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute
• Contact: Zhonghu He
• Phone: 010-88196702
• Email: zhonghuhe@bjcancer.org
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 2024
• Completion date: December 2034