Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgical Innovations in Gastric and Esophageal Cancers

Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery have revolutionized gastrointestinal (GI) cancer care. These technological advances offer patients improved recovery, reduced morbidity, and enhanced surgical precision in complex oncologic procedures. In both gastric and esophageal cancer surgery, innovative techniques, such as advanced laparoscopy, robotic platforms, fluorescence-guided surgery, augmented reality, and novel intraoperative imaging, continue to evolve, shaping the future of surgical oncology.This Research Topic seeks to highlight the latest innovations, clinical applications, and translational research related to minimally invasive and robotic surgery in gastric and esophageal cancers. We aim to feature work that explores new operative strategies, device and instrument design, real-time intraoperative guidance, multi-modality imaging, and technology-driven improvements in patient outcomes for these cancer types. In addition, we particularly welcome studies that incorporate or are supported by pre-clinical and translational platforms (e.g., organoids, precision-cut tissue slices, ex vivo models, liquid biopsy/ctDNA), to inform patient selection, perioperative decision-making, and outcome prediction.We welcome original research, reviews, and clinical studies encompassing, but not limited to:• Advances in minimally invasive and robotic techniques for gastric and esophageal cancer management.• Integration of novel imaging modalities (e.g., ICG fluorescence, augmented or virtual reality) in gastric and esophageal surgery.• Emerging technologies and devices shaping the future of gastric and esophageal surgical oncology.• Comparative effectiveness research between minimally invasive/robotic and traditional open approaches in gastric and esophageal cancers.• Training, implementation, and outcomes of new surgical technologies in different patient populations with gastric or esophageal malignancies.• Studies integrating minimally invasive/robotic procedures with pre-clinical or translational research, including organoid-based models, precision-cut tissue slices, patient-derived or ex vivo platforms, and liquid biopsy approaches (e.g., ctDNA) for treatment response assessment, minimal residual disease monitoring, and recurrence risk stratification. This Research Topic is focused on gastric and esophageal cancers with the intent of presenting comprehensive and comparative data that help advance multidisciplinary innovation in oncologic surgery. Original research, high-quality reviews, and clinical series are encouraged to further the field and contribute new perspectives. Submissions that bridge surgical innovation with pre-clinical and translational evidence are especially encouraged.Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal. Topic editors: Antonio Costanzo, Hanoch Kashtan Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/72802/minimally-invasive-and-robotic-surgical-innovations-in-gastric-and-esophageal-cancers