Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Against Laparoscopic Assisted Gastrectomy for Treatment of Early Gastric Cancer

The investigators compared the perioperative, oncological, functional and immunological outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection against laparoscopic assisted gastrectomy for treatment of early gastric cancer. With virtually no abdominal incisions and minimal pain induced, endoscopic submucosal dissection is expected to be less invasive when compared to laparoscopic assisted gastrectomy for treatment of early gastric cancer. This study will show that endoscopic submucosal dissection is associated with a significantly better perioperative recovery and less immunological disturbance. Moreover, it will also induce a better long term outcomes as the stomach can be preserved, hence the digestive function is maintained to prevent long term functional morbidities of the gastrointestinal tract.

This study will be the unique first study in the literature to show that intramucosal early gastric cancer can be adequately treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection with better perioperative, functional and quality of life outcomes when compared to laparoscopic assisted gastrectomy.