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Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotic Techniques in GI Cancer Treatment

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Methods and Technologies Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2026 | Viewed by 807

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA
Interests: minimally invasive; robotic surgery; robotic transplant surgery; cancer; oncology

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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA
Interests: surgery; cancer; invasive surgery; oncology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer treatment has undergone a significant transformation with the rapid evolution of minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical techniques. These cutting-edge approaches have redefined the standard of care, offering unparalleled precision, shorter recovery periods, reduced postoperative complications, and improved long-term patient outcomes. The integration of advanced laparoscopic and robotic technologies has enabled surgeons to perform intricate oncologic procedures with greater dexterity, enhanced visualization, and minimal disruption to surrounding healthy tissues.

This Special Issue aims to explore the latest breakthroughs and technological innovations that are shaping the future of GI cancer surgery. With continuous advancements in robotic platforms, AI-assisted surgical navigation, augmented reality, and precision-guided instrumentation, the possibilities for enhanced oncologic resection, organ preservation, and an improved quality of life for patients continue to expand. This collection of articles will highlight key developments, clinical applications, emerging trends, and potential challenges associated with these advanced surgical techniques.

By gathering insights from leading experts, renowned surgical oncologists, and pioneering researchers, this Special Issue will serve as a comprehensive resource for clinicians, scientists, and healthcare professionals striving to optimize cancer treatment strategies. As the field continues to evolve, this Special Issue aims to contribute to the progression of surgical oncology, the refinement of innovative techniques, and the ongoing effort to provide patients with the highest level of precision, safety, and efficacy in cancer care.

Dr. Luca Milone
Dr. Abid Qureshi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • minimally invasive surgery
  • robotic surgery
  • gastrointestinal cancer
  • surgical oncology
  • laparoscopic surgery
  • advanced surgical technology
  • robotic-assisted procedures
  • AI in robotic surgery

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 1416 KB  
Article
The White Plane in Esophageal Surgery: A Novel Anatomical Landmark with Prognostic Significance
by Vladimir J. Lozanovski, Timor Roia, Edin Hadzijusufovic, Yulia Brecht, Franziska Renger, Hauke Lang and Peter P. Grimminger
Cancers 2025, 17(24), 4005; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17244005 - 16 Dec 2025
Viewed by 480
Abstract
Introduction: Identification of the thoracic duct (TD) is essential during esophageal surgery to reduce the risk of complications such as chylothorax. The clinical significance of the white plane, or Morosow’s ligament—a consistent anatomical landmark along the esophagus—remains poorly defined. Methods: A total of [...] Read more.
Introduction: Identification of the thoracic duct (TD) is essential during esophageal surgery to reduce the risk of complications such as chylothorax. The clinical significance of the white plane, or Morosow’s ligament—a consistent anatomical landmark along the esophagus—remains poorly defined. Methods: A total of 166 patients undergoing robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) were analyzed. Intraoperative visualization of the white plane was documented. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, postoperative complications, management strategies, hospital length of stay, and overall survival were assessed. Complication severity was graded using the Clavien–Dindo classification. The Kaplan–Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate prognostic factors, including BMI, ASA score, pneumonia, pT status, pN status, neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy, and white plane visualization. Results: The white plane was visualized in 154 patients (92.8%). Postoperative complications, management strategies, hospital length of stay, and 30-/90-day in-hospital mortality did not differ between groups with visualized and not visualized white planes. Median overall survival was significantly longer in patients with a visible white plane (43.1 vs. 13.1 months; p = 0.0079). The multivariable analysis identified ASA classification, pT stage, pN stage, and adjuvant therapy as independent predictors of overall survival, whereas lymph node stage and adjuvant therapy were independent predictors of recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: The white plane is a distinct intraoperative anatomical structure that can be visualized in most RAMIE procedures. Its identification may assist in TD recognition and provides a framework for describing mediastinal anatomy, but further studies are needed to determine its impact on surgical standardization and patient outcomes. Full article
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