Aiming at much better quality of life by similar mortality rates, research has been focused on developing of new techniques. EMR for early - stage esophagus, gastric and colorectal cancers, under strict control of several specific criteria, may replace conventional standard surgical treatment.

It is well recognized that early detection of gastrointestinal cancers is one of the most important factors that improves prognosis in these patients[2]. Newer techniques, such as magnifying endoscopy combined with chromoendoscopy[25,26,76],photodynamic diagnosis[77,78] and light-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy[79], to mention a few, hold promise for earlier detection of malignant lesions.

In the face of these newer implications, EMR emerges as an important new addition to our therapeutic armamentarium. It is expected to play an important role in establishing a diagnosis and treating early GI cancer in the future. Intensive research, newer technical implications and well-scheduled randomized trials, along with the adoption of common, universally-accepted criteria are needed in order to establish EMR as a first-line treatment or at least as a reliable alternative to surgical therapy for patients with early GI cancers.