ISDE News

In Memoriam: Professor Mario Costantini

The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) and the European Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ESDE) share with great sadness the passing of Professor Mario Costantini on April 9.

Professor Costantini was a highly respected leader in both the national and international surgical communities. He was widely recognized for his exceptional contributions to research, clinical practice, and the education and mentorship of generations of surgeons and physicians. His work played a pivotal role in advancing the understanding and management of functional esophageal disorders and rare gastrointestinal diseases.

A distinguished alumnus of the Esophageal Surgery group at the University of Padova, Professor Costantini further developed his expertise during a formative fellowship in the United States under Professor Tom DeMeester at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He remained deeply engaged in the global community, including his role on the organizing committee of the ISDE World Congress in Venice in 2012.

He will be remembered not only for his scientific and clinical achievements but also for his integrity, generosity, and commitment to advancing the field.

ISDE and ESDE extend their heartfelt condolences to his wife, Donatella, his son, Andrea who continues his father’s legacy in medicine and to his colleagues, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.

ISDE has released a new guideline on the management of clinically staged cT2N0M0 esophageal cancer, an area where treatment decisions have often lacked clear direction.

Following a systematic review and expert panel process using the GRADE methodology, the guideline gives a conditional recommendation for neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery over primary surgical resection for most adult patients.

The guideline also notes that surgery alone may remain appropriate for selected patients, particularly those unable to tolerate neoadjuvant treatment or those at low risk of lymph node metastasis.

This new guidance is intended to support multidisciplinary teams and patients in making evidence-based treatment decisions.

ISDE also recognizes the outstanding work of the ISDE Guidelines Committee chaired by Bas Wijnhoven (Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands) and Ewen Griffiths (Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK). Members of this committee continue to assess emerging evidence and develop important guidelines and consensus statements that advance global standards in esophageal disease care.

On March 25, 2026, International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus hosted an expert-led webinar exploring the evolving role of lymphadenectomy in esophageal cancer management, bringing together leading surgeons from across Asia and Europe.

The session highlighted regional variations in surgical practice and emphasized the ongoing need for high-quality data to inform optimal approaches.

• Dr. C.S. Pramesh (India) shared insights from Tata Memorial Center, outlining current practices and underscoring gaps in long-term outcomes data.
• Dr. Suzanne Gisbertz (Europe) presented findings from a systematic review and survey, illustrating variability in lymphadenectomy techniques across European centers.
• Dr. Hiroya Takeuchi (Japan) detailed the Eastern approach, focusing on technical precision and advancements in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery.
• Dr. Subramanyeshwar Rao Thammineedi (India) addressed the complexities of lymphadenectomy in salvage esophageal cancer, including operative challenges following prior treatments.

The webinar concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants discussed key clinical considerations such as extent of dissection, management of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, and thoracic duct preservation.

Missed the session or want to revisit key insights?
Explore this webinar and more in the ISDE Video Library.

Welcome & Context Setting: 2 Field vs 3 Field Lymphadenectomy - CS Pramesh

Lymphadenectomy in Esophageal Cancer – European Perspective – Suzanne Gisbertz

Lymphadenectomy in Esophageal Cancer – Eastern Perspective – Hiroya Takeuchi

Lymphadenectomy in Salvage Esophagectomy + Q&A – T.S. Rao and Panel

We are pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2026 Young ISDE Research Dragon's Den, to be held during the 22nd ISDE World Congress in Kyoto, Japan on September 16, 2026.

Hosted by the Young ISDE Committee, the Research Dragon’s Den is designed to support early- and mid-career investigators by providing a unique opportunity to pitch innovative, multicenter research ideas to an international panel of expert reviewers. Selected applicants will present their projects live and receive constructive feedback aimed at strengthening scientific rigor, feasibility, and impact. 

The winning project will receive a dedicated incentive package, including: 

• Complimentary registration for the 2027 ISDE World Congress 
• USD $2,500 in travel support to attend the Congress in Utrecht, The Netherlands (September 21–23, 2027) 
• Visibility and promotion through ISDE’s international networks 
• Support in establishing multicenter and international collaborations 

Key dates include: 

• Call opens: January 26, 2026 
• Application deadline: March 18, 2026 
• Notification of acceptance: April 8, 2026 

Applications are open to ISDE Individual Members who are early- to mid-career researchers, with a strong emphasis on international, multidisciplinary, and collaborative research projects. 

We encourage eligible members to take advantage of this opportunity to advance their research, build global collaborations, and contribute to the future of esophageal science. 

Full application details and submission instructions are available online. 

As President of both the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) and the International Society for Digestive Surgery (ISDS), I am very pleased to personally highlight an important collaborative session taking place at International Surgical Week (ISW) 2026, from 19–23 April 2026 in Mexico City.

One of the great strengths of our societies is the shared commitment to advancing high-quality, evidence-based care for patients with esophageal and upper gastrointestinal disease. That commitment is reflected in our joint session, “Updates in Upper GI Surgery,” co-sponsored by ISDE and ISDS.

This session brings together several outstanding colleagues and leaders in the field, many of whom are long-standing and active members of ISDE. The programme has been designed to be concise, practical, and clinically relevant, with focused presentations followed by discussion to encourage interaction and exchange of perspectives.

Updates in Upper GI Surgery (ISDE–ISDS Joint Session)

• Current Paradigm in Management of Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer - Lorenzo Ferri (Canada)

• T4B Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Practical Approaches to Borderline Resectable Disease - Hirotoshi Kukichi (Japan)

• Modern Management of Gastro-Esophageal Junctional Cancers: Multimodal Therapy and Surgical Approach - Suzanne Gisbertz (The Netherlands)

• Limited Metastases from Gastro-Esophageal Cancer: A Surgical Disease? - Sheraz Markar (United Kingdom)

• Optimising Peri-operative Outcomes for the Esophageal Cancer Patient - Wayne Hofstetter (United States)

It is a pleasure to see so many respected ISDE members contributing to this session, alongside international colleagues, and I believe it will be of great value to surgeons, trainees, and multidisciplinary teams involved in upper GI cancer care.

I warmly encourage ISDE members who are planning to attend International Surgical Week 2026 to join us for this session, support this collaboration, and take part in what I expect will be a lively and informative discussion.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Mexico City.

Lorenzo Ferri
President, International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus

The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) is delighted to announce that Montreal, Canada, has been selected as the host city for the 2028 ISDE World Congress, to be held September 4–7, 2028. 

The ISDE World Congress is the Society’s flagship scientific meeting, bringing together clinicians, surgeons, researchers, and allied health professionals from around the world to advance the prevention, diagnosis, and management of esophageal diseases. Montreal was selected following a competitive bidding process, recognizing its strong academic and clinical community, international connectivity, and reputation as a world-class conference destination. 

With its unique blend of North American energy and European charm, Montreal offers an inspiring environment for scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and networking. The 2028 Congress will feature a comprehensive scientific program, cutting-edge research, and opportunities to engage with global leaders in the field. 

ISDE looks forward to welcoming the international esophageal community to Montreal in 2028. Additional information regarding the Congress theme, program highlights, and registration will be announced in the coming years. 

For more information visit isde-congress.net  

The Diseases of the Esophagus Journal is pleased to announce two new article types now being accepted by the Diseases of the Esophagus Journal — designed to broaden opportunities for authors and highlight valuable contributions to the esophageal community. 

Lessons Learned 

Share your unique perspective on a technique, disease entity, proposed classification system, or training pathway. These brief commentaries (up to 2,000 words) offer practical insights and experiences that can benefit the esophageal community, particularly early-career physicians and clinicians seeking to expand their expertise. 

Research Tools and Protocols 

Highlight validated questionnaires, data collection instruments, or multicenter research protocols that foster collaboration and advance multidisciplinary esophageal research. 

Both article types allow: 

• Up to 2,000 words and 6 references 
• 1 figure or table 
• An unstructured abstract of up to 250 words 

View Current Articles in Lessons Learned

We invite you to submit your work and help strengthen knowledge-sharing across our global community.

Learn More & Submit Your Manuscript

The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) is pleased to announce Dr. Adam Frankel of the Princess Alexandra Hospital Clinical School, Australia, as the winner of the 2025 Young ISDE Sharks Tank, held during the ISDE World Congress in Brisbane. His winning proposal, “Minimum Dataset for Surgical Management of Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease,” aims to establish a standardized data collection framework to improve clinical practice, streamline research, and support global collaboration in the surgical management of GERD.

The Young ISDE Sharks Tank—formerly the Dragon’s Den—is designed to empower early-career clinicians and researchers by providing a platform to present innovative research ideas to senior experts. The competition continues to highlight the next generation of leaders advancing esophageal science and care.

2025 Finalist Proposals

This year’s competition featured five high-quality and forward-thinking proposals:

1. Minimum Dataset for Surgical Management of Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease – Adam Frankel, Princess Alexandra Hospital Clinical School, Australia
2. Oligometastatic Disease for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma – Motoo Nomura, Kyoto University Hospital, Japan
3. Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy vs. Perioperative Chemotherapy for Gastro-Esophageal Cancer: An International Multidisciplinary Delphi Consensus Study – Hidde Overtoom, Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands
4. Deep-IO-Eso: A Deep Learning Model for Predicting Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Immuno-Chemotherapy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Pre- and Post-Treatment H&E Images – Chunji Chen, Shanghai Chest Hospital, China
5. A Prospective Randomised Study Comparing Prophylactic Endolumenal Vacuum Therapy with a Sponge vs. Prophylactic Endolumenal Vacuum Therapy with a Fenestrated Drain for Oesophageal Anastomoses – Scott Whiting, Townsville University Hospital, Queensland Health, Australia

Sharks Panel 2025

The expert Sharks who evaluated the proposals this year included Yin-Kai Chao (Taiwan), Daniela Molena (USA), Anh Nguyen (USA), and Kongjia Luo (China).

The judges commended all finalists for their creativity, scientific rigor, and commitment to advancing patient care.

About the Winning Proposal

Dr. Frankel’s proposal stood out for its clarity, feasibility, and potential global utility. Establishing a minimum dataset for GERD surgery will help harmonize outcomes reporting, enable more robust multicenter studies, and support the development of evidence-based guidelines.

ISDE congratulates Dr. Frankel and extends appreciation to all finalists for contributing to another outstanding edition of the Young ISDE Sharks Tank. Learn more about the program at the ISDE research projects page.

Since our last update in November 2024, the ENDEAVOR Project has made significant strides toward achieving its mission: to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs through precision-driven, patient-centered innovation. 

About ENDEAVOR

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, ENDEAVOR aims to develop a cost-effective, biomarker-based method to identify patients with Barrett’s Esophagus who are at higher risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, a severe subtype of esophageal cancer. By enabling early and accurate risk detection, this method will support clinicians in selecting the most appropriate treatment and surveillance strategies for each individual — a truly personalized approach to care. 

Collaboration Across Europe 

A hallmark of ENDEAVOR’s progress has been its widespread international collaboration. The consortium brings together 14 academic institutions, 3 general hospitals, and 2 industrial partners across 9 EU countries, engaging specialists from multiple disciplines including gastroenterology, oncology, pathology, social science and data science. 

This diverse expertise ensures that ENDEAVOR’s findings reflect the complexity of real-world clinical practice and that its solutions are practical, scalable, and sustainable. 

Highlights from the Past Year 

In April 2025, partners gathered in Ireland for the Annual Consortium Meeting, a milestone event that reviewed progress, aligned strategies, and set the roadmap for the next phase of implementation. ENDEAVOR partners also showcased project insights at several major scientific gatherings, including the European Society for Diseases of the Esophagus, the Belgian Association of Cancer Research and the Belgian Week of Gastroenterology, where discussions focused on improving patient quality of life, refining risk-based surveillance programs and presenting a novel brush sampling technique. 

A key development has been the continued engagement of the Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Panel, ensuring that patient perspectives remain central to ENDEAVOR’s design and decision-making processes. 

Expected Impact 

ENDEAVOR’s biomarker-driven approach is designed to: 

• Increase quality of life for patients by reducing unnecessary procedures and focusing surveillance where it is most needed. 
• Support clinicians in making better-informed, evidence-based decisions about patient care. 
• Reduce healthcare costs by improving efficiency and targeting resources effectively. 
  

Next Steps 

Looking ahead, the consortium will use the insights gained so far to refine the risk-stratification method, with the goal of further validating its accuracy and applicability. The lessons learned through ENDEAVOR may also open pathways to extend this biomarker-based approach to other cancer types, amplifying its potential impact across healthcare systems. 

Join the Journey 

ENDEAVOR continues to move from inspiration to implementation, guided by a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and patient benefit. Stay connected with the project’s progress and upcoming milestones by visiting ENDEAVOR’s blog or following them on social media. 

https://x.com/EndeavorEU  
https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-eu 

ISDE 2025 was full of excitement, learning, and connection — and our contests added an extra dose of fun! The ISDE Membership Committee led two initiatives designed to boost engagement among delegates: the #MyISDE Photo Contest and the ISDE 2025 Trivia Game.

#MyISDE Photo Contest
Congratulations to Lieven Depypere from UZ Leuven in Belgium, winner of the #MyISDE Photo Contest for this fantastic picture shared on LinkedIn. Their photo perfectly captured the spirit of the congress and our global community. As a prize, Lieven will receive free registration to ISDE 2026 in Japan! Thank you to everyone who shared their moments using #ISDEcongress2025 and #MyISDE, making this contest a true celebration of connection.

ISDE 2025 Trivia Game
We also celebrated our ISDE trivia champion! Congratulations to Jessica Ng from Princess Alexandra Hospital in Australia, who earned the highest score and fastest responses in the ISDE 2025 Trivia Game. Their impressive knowledge of all things ISDE earned them complimentary registration to ISDE 2026 in Japan. This interactive contest brought friendly competition and learning into the congress, thanks to the efforts of the ISDE Membership Committee.

Thank you to everyone who participated in these initiatives and helped make ISDE 2025 a memorable, engaging, and connected experience. We look forward to seeing you all again in Japan for ISDE 2026!