RCT of EFTR Versus STER for GIST Treatment

NCT07411118 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CRE-2024.509
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 136
• Locations: 4 countries
• Sites: 4

Brief Summary

Endoscopic resection has been increasing utilized as the treatment for small size gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), of which the best resection method has not been identified. We aim to compare the outcomes of endoscopic full thickness resection (EFTR) versus submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection (STER) for clinical small gastric GIST. We hypothesize that EFTR could achieve better complete margin negative resection than STER without increase in adverse event. This is an international multi-center double blinded randomized controlled trial involving four high volume centers from Hong Kong, mainland China, India and Japan. Adult patients with clinical 1.0-3.Scm gastric GIST undergoing endoscopic resection would be recruited. Patients would be randomized to undergo EFTR (intervention) or STER (Control) by expert endoscopists under general anaesthesia according to well published methods.

Conditions

Small Size Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors; GIST

Keywords

EFTR; STER; GIST

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Complete R0 resection

  Complete R0 resection, defined as en-bloc complete endoscopic resection with intact tumor capsule and histological negative resection margins. Measure unit: % of lesions.

  1 day

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Rate of Intra-procedural adverse events

  1 day

• Rate of post-procedural adverse events

  30 days

• Procedure time

  1 day

• Crossover rate to EFTR in STER group

  30 days

• Conversion rate to major surgery

  30 days

Study Arms (2)

Endoscopic full thickness resection (EFTR) Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients would be randomized to undergo EFTR by expert endoscopists under general anaesthesia according to well published methods.

Procedure: Endoscopic full thickness resection (EFTR) / Exposed non-tunneling EFTR

Submucosal Tunneling Endoscopic Resection (STER) Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients would be randomized to undergo STER by expert endoscopists under general anaesthesia according to well published methods.

Procedure: Submucosal Tunneling Endoscopic Resection (STER) / Exposed tunneling EFTR

Interventions

Endoscopic full thickness resection (EFTR) / Exposed non-tunneling EFTR PROCEDURE

The procedure would be performed in similar way as reported in the literature. A therapeutic endoscope would be used and the target lesion identified. After submucosal injection of solution around the lesion, mucosal incision would be performed with dedicated dissection knife, followed by submucosal dissection. After adequate submucosal dissection to expose the muscularis propria layer around the tumor, the muscle layer would be dissected to achieve full thickness resection. Care would be taken to avoid breaching of the tumor capsule during the procedure and to aim for en-bloc tumor resection. During the procedure, countertraction technique could be utilized according to the discretion of the endoscopists. Clip or snare related traction methods such as clip-line traction are allowed depending on the endoscopists' preference. In case of development of significant pneumoperitoneum, decompression could be performed by transcutaneous needle.

Endoscopic full thickness resection (EFTR) Group

Submucosal Tunneling Endoscopic Resection (STER) / Exposed tunneling EFTR PROCEDURE

As with exposed EFTR, the STER procedure would also be performed in similar way as reported in literature. After identification of the tumor location, a mucosal incision would be made at 3-4cm proximal to it after submucosal injection of saline mixture. Submucosal tunnel would then be created until identification of the tumor within the tunnel. Circumferential dissection would then be performed around the tumor until complete resection is achieved. During the procedure, the dissection plane would aim to avoid breaching tumor capsule in similar manner with EFTR group. The resected specimen would then be retrieved through the tunnel opening. After confirming adequate haemostasis within the submucosal tunnel, the mucosal incision would be closed with TTS clips. In case of failure of STER, cross-over to EFTR would be allowed in order to achieve tumor resection.

Submucosal Tunneling Endoscopic Resection (STER) Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Presence of gastric subepithelial tumor on diagnostic upper endoscopy, and
• Diagnostic EUS and CT scan with intravenous contrast suspicious of GIST arising from muscularis propria layer, size with maximum diameter \>=1.0cm and \<= 3.5cm, and
• Absence of high risk features, including irregular margins, invasion to surrounding organs, lesion hypervascularity, and
• Endoscopic morphology and location deemed feasible with both EFTR and STER by an expert endoscopist, or
• Histological confirmation of GIST through EUS guided fine needle biopsy (Optional, based on recommendation from guidelines)

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with tumors deemed not suitable for endoscopic resection (Either EFTR or STER), due to unfavourable location, high risk morphology, or any other reasons.
• Patients with multiple tumors.
• Patients unable or unwilling to provide consent.
• Previous esophageal or gastric surgery.
• Patients with significant cardiorespiratory comorbidities which may limit their ability to undertake general anesthesia for the procedure, including ASA grade III or above.
• Pregnant women or those planning pregnancy or breastfeeding women.
• Uncorrectable coagulopathy defined by international normalized ratio (INR) \> 1.5 or platelet count \< 50000/µl.
• Patients on double anti-platelet agents or anti-coagulation (Warfarin, heparin or other direct oral anticoagulants)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong: lead
• Fudan University: collaborator
• Osaka International Cancer Institute: collaborator
• Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, India: collaborator

Study Sites (4)

Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University

Shanghai, China

NOT YET RECRUITING

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Asian Institute of Gastroenterology

Hyderabad, India

NOT YET RECRUITING

Osaka International Cancer Institute

Osaka, Japan

NOT YET RECRUITING

Related Publications (23)

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MeSH Terms

Interventions

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Endoscopy, Digestive System; Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Endoscopy; Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical; Digestive System Surgical Procedures; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures

Study Officials

• Hon Chi Yip

  Chinese University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Hon Chi Yip

CONTACT

+852 3505 2956; hcyip@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 9, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2032
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2033
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1); IN (1); HK (1); JP (1)