Recent development of innovative resection methods for gastric neoplasms using hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery approach

There have been an evolutionary development with respect to the resection modality for the treatment of the gastric neoplasms such as gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) or early gastric cancers (EGCs). Hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (hybrid NOTES) played a central role in the process of development. In the earlier period, the non-exposure type hybrid NOTES such as laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery (LECS), endoscope-assisted wedge resection (EAWR), and laparoscopy-assisted endoscopic full-thickness resection (LAEFTR) has been introduced by several investigators. However, a concern about a spillage of gastric content including the tumor cells has been continuously raised among the clinicians. Accordingly, the non-exposure type hybrid NOTES such as combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with a non-exposure technique (CLEAN-NET), non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery (NEWS), and hybrid neo-endoscopic full-thickness resection (hybrid neo-EFTR) have been developed to the clinicians. Although most of studies about hybrid NOTES for the treatment of the gastric neoplasms have a small number of patients and require further validations, those are enough to receive our attention. Here, we describe and summarize the development process of the innovative resection methods for gastric neoplasms using hybrid NOTES approach.