Active clinical trials for "Barrett Esophagus"

The purpose of this study is to determine biomarkers which can predict response to ablation therapy in patients with Barretts esophagus.

This study assesses the quality of the resection of early neoplasia arinsing in Barrett's esophagus using endoscopic submucosal dissection. It is a multicenter prospective registry among 7 centers including all consecutive patients with early Barrett's neoplasia of 15 mm or more in size treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

The Siewert classification of oesophageal cancer is the standard approach in anatomically subdividing cancer of the lower oesohagus.

The purpose of this study is to assess lymph node metastasis rate, distant metastasis rate, disease-specific mortality, and overall mortality in patients with Barrett's related T1b and high risk T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) who underwent a diagnostic endoscopic resection.

RATIONALE: Learning about how often heartburn and other risk factors occur in brothers and sisters and other family members of patients with Barrett's esophagus may help identify other individuals at risk and identify genes for Barrett's esophagus. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying genes for Barrett's esophagus in brothers and sisters.

The aim of this study is to establish a nationwide registry to collect data regarding the treatment of Barrett's Esophagus (BE) with radiofrequency ablation. The objective of this registry is to increase the number of data and therefore obtain a raise of quality assurance and improve outcome and patient security. Furthermore to provide participating physicians information and experience for treatment details in the therapy of BE.

Cancers of the upper gastro-intestinal tract, including esophagus (gullet), stomach and small bowel, are amongst the deadliest malignancies. The main reason for their high mortality rate is that they are usually diagnosed late when curative treatments are no longer effective. However, these types of cancer generally arise from well-described pre-cancerous diseases, such as Barrett's esophagus and gastric intestinal metaplasia. This provides an opportunity for clinicians to detect these pre-cancerous conditions early and offer adequate cure or clinical monitoring before they progress to cancer. A camera test (gastroscopy) is the gold-standard test to detect pre-cancerous diseases in these organs. There has been limited research to set the standards for performance of a gastroscopy, especially with regards to diagnosis of pre-cancerous conditions, which require knowledge and skills by the physician performing the test (endoscopist). Therefore, the hypothesis behind this study is that the aforementioned pre-cancerous diseases are understudied and often go undetected. This study aims to understand how often endoscopists should diagnose these pre-cancerous diseases on routine gastroscopy and help define the standards to measure performance. The investigators will assess the following rates: i. how often endoscopists diagnose these pre-cancerous lesions during endoscopy; ii. How often these conditions are diagnosed on biopsies taken according to a standardized protocol; iii. How often these condition should have been diagnosed by the endoscopists based on the review of pictures by expert endoscopists. The investigators will also compare the rates of correct diagnosis by endoscopists with different levels of experience and based on the times spent to complete the diagnostic test. Investigating these aspects will enhance the understanding of the medical community with regards to the diagnosis of these pre-cancerous lesions and set endoscopy standards to improve their early detection and treatment before they progress to cancer. This will translate to improved cancer prevention and benefit for patients.

The ultimate goal of the Barrett's Esophagus Patient Registry is to help develop more effective targeted screening strategies and treatment options for Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). We plan to do by developing a registry that will serve as a platform. Examples of analyses could include identifying genetic determinants and biomarkers that predict BE, progression of BE to EAC, as well as the response to therapies.

Specialized columnar epithelium (SCE) is considered as pathognomonic for Barrett's esophagus. Chromoendoscopy after local acetic acid application enables recognition of the mucosal surface architecture. The new available EPKi processor (Pentax, Japan) enables HD+ resolution above HDTV standard. Aim of the study is to test the efficacy of HD+ endoscopy in conjunction with i-Scan or acetic acid to diagnose Barrett's esophagus. The primary endpoint of the current prospective study is to investigate the diagnostic yield of virtual chromoendoscopy using the i scan function as compared to acetic acid chromoendoscopy and 4-quadrant biopsies. Patients with visible columnar lined lower esophagus (CLE) are included. After standardized PPI therapy (14 days; standard dosage) patients were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to undergo either chromoendoscopy in conjunction with acetic acid application or i-Scan. Biopsies are taken in a targeted fashion using acetic acid or i scan and afterwards 4-quadrant biopsies are taken.

By using combination of the expression of COX-2 and NOS and immunologic reaction in the esophagus with manometry of LES and cruel diaphragm and 24 hr esophageal pH monitoring to investigate the mechanisms and to make a new and more clinically applicable clarification of these reflux diseases will be valuable in the clinical management and prevention. We will perform the following works and complete the objectives: 1) comparing the difference of immuno-inflammatory reactions among NERD, reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus; 2) the different expression of PGs & COX-2 in functional heartburn, hiatus hernia, NERD, reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus; determining the subtype of EP receptor (EP1~4); 3) determining and comparing the expression of NOS in the esophagus; 4) investigating the role of ROS in the esophagus; 5) in correlating cytokine, COX-2 and NOS with LESP, TLESR, diaphragm EMG and 24-hour esophageal pH ; 6) the difference of expression of cytokine, atrophic gastritis and Hp in gastric mucosa, in correlating with intragastric acid status, among functional heartburn, hiatus hernia, NERD, erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus; to determine whether should eradicate Hp in reflux esophageal disease; 7) the effects of lipid peroxidation related immunologic reaction, with relation to COX-2 and NOS, in the inflammatory activity and esophageal carcinogenesis of esophagus; 8) the effects of cytokines, COX-2 and NOS on the apoptosis in these reflux esophageal diseases; 9) integrating immuno-inflamatory reaction, COX-2, NOS with manometry of LES and diaphragm, and 24-hour pH monitoring and intragastric pH to newly clarify GERD into evidence based categories.