Active clinical trials for "Barrett Esophagus"

This study is to identify potential biomarkers for the early detection of Barrett's Esophagus, esophageal carcinoma (both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), and gastric cancer via sponge cytology.

The purpose of this study is to create a registry (collect data and keep it in a research database) to learn more about two methods of taking small tissue samples from your esophagus (the esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach). The two methods of sampling are: 1) Using forceps that take biopsies (small tissue samples) from your esophagus, and 2) Using a brush that also takes biopsies from your esophagus.

This study is designed to perform a explorative search of the transcriptome to detect new circulating diagnostic sensitive and specific biomarkers in patients with Barrett's esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

The investigators aim to study the rate of developing a biopsy-based diagnosis of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and EAC in BE patients in a prospective cohort of 208 BE patients at high risk of progression (i.e. after endoscopic removal of visible lesions containing HGD/EAC and/or a diagnosis of low-grade dysplasia (LGD)) as well as in 208 BE patients with a nondysplastic BE (NDBE) undergoing standard BE surveillance. In these patients the investigators will combine biopsy sampling with WATS at baseline and all follow-up endoscopies during a 3- year follow-up period. This will allow us to study the natural history of WATS-positive-biopsynegative- cases and of WATS-specific outcomes such as basal-crypt dysplasia. The study also allows us to collect specimens for future biomarker studies that may help to predict progression to HGD/EAC in the absence of morphological features of dysplasia.

This research study is creating a way to collect and store specimens and information from participants who may be at an increased risk of developing cancer, or has been diagnosed with an early phase of a cancer or a family member who has a family member with a precursor condition for cancer. The objective of this study is to identify exposures as well as clinical, molecular, and pathological changes that can be used to predict early development of cancer, malignant transformation, and risks of progression to symptomatic cancer that can ultimately be fatal. The ultimate goal is to identify novel markers of early detection and risk stratification to drive potential therapeutic approaches to intercept progression to cancer.

This study will test the safety and effectiveness of esophageal transoral endoscopic circumferential resection (TECR) using an extracellular matrix (ECM) placement to treat Barrett's esophagus in patients with high-grade dysplasia (HGD). Endoscopic circumferential resection using ECM placement has been introduced as a less invasive, externally incision-less approach to treat patients with esophageal high grade dysplasia; a pre-cancerous condition. In this procedure, the entire length of diseased (abnormal) mucosa (esophagus lining) will be removed using an endoscope that will be inserted through the mouth. The ECM will be placed over the area that is being removed with a temporary, expandable stent to prevent narrowing of the esophagus. The stent is being used to hold the ECM in place as the body begins the healing process. This stent will be removed 14 days (±4 days) after this procedure. Follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGD), barium swallow x-ray tests, and questionnaires will take place for 12 months following the procedure. The result of this study may help doctors determine if this procedure would be a more effective treatment option for HGD in the future.

Lay summary: Barrett's Esophagus (BE) involves a change of the esophagus lining (BE epithelium) which in a small proportion of patients could be the starting point for the development of cancer (esophageal adenocarcinoma). Currently, there is evidence that this change is initiated by acid reflux from the stomach which then could progress in a stepwise manner from the healthy epithelium to cellular changes (intestinal metaplasia, low-grade and high-grade dysplasia) and finally to adenocarcinoma. Surgery is considered the standard therapy for this cancer which involves the risk of death and complications with quality of life impairments. New possibilities for treatment have evolved with endoscopic therapies which allow for treatment of early changes of the epithelium (intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia) prior to the occurrence of cancer using either argon plasma coagulation (APC) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Both are established methods for eradication of BE by thermal ablation of the BE epithelium using high frequency current (HF). More advanced BE epithelium with early visible cancers are being treated by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). After EMR the residual Barrett's epithelium can also be removed by ablation with RFA or APC. Currently radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been suggested as the standard therapy for BE treatment. Although effective in the eradication of the BE epithelium after RFA treatment the re-appearance of BE epithelium and the occurrence of complications such as strictures causing swallowing impairments for food have also been observed in clinical studies. A recently developed method is Hybrid argon plasma coagulation (ablation) [HybridAPC® (HAPC)] which combines argon plasma coagulation (APC) with a fluid injection function by a water beam. The water beam allows to establish a fluid cushion (normal sterile saline) right beneath the BE-epithelium prior to thermal ablation thereby protecting the esophagus wall from heat during ablation of epithelium with APC. The goal of this randomized controlled study is to investigate if HAPC is non-inferior to RFA in the stricture-free eradication of the dysplastic BE epithelium.

This clinical trial will evaluate a patient population with Barrett's esophagus(BE) containing high grade dysplasia or intramucosal cancer and compare the effects of endoscopically-guided radiofrequency ablation system(RFA) and endoscopically-guided stepwise endoscopic mucosal resection(S-EMR).

The purpose of this research study is to assess how safe, effective (how well it works), and tolerable (to put up with) the drug Zegerid is in reducing reflux episodes in patients who have both gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus. Zegerid has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of GERD. The investigators hope to learn the effectiveness of Zegerid for reducing the amount of acid reflux patients are experiencing in the esophagus (swallowing pipe).

The primary objective of this study is to determine the percentage segment regression after spray cryotherapy in a dose-escalation study performed in patients with dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus (BE) using trūFreeze™ spray cryotherapy within the currently recommended therapeutic range. Secondary objectives are the determination of safety related outcomes such as esophageal stricture.