Active clinical trials for "Barrett Esophagus"

To improve detection of esophageal (pre)malignant lesions during surveillance endoscopy of patients at risk of developing malignancies, for example in Barrett's Esophagus (BE), there is a need for better endoscopic visualization and the ability for targeted biopsies. Optical molecular imaging of neoplasia associated biomarkers could form a promising technique to accommodate this need. It is known that the biomarker c-Met is overexpressed in dysplastic and neoplastic areas in BE segments versus normal tissue and has proven to be a valid target for molecular imaging. Edinburgh Molecular Imaging Ltd (EMI) has developed a fluorescent tracer specifically targeting c-Met by labeling a small peptide to a fluorescent fluorophore: 'EMI-137'. The investigators hypothesize that when EMI-137 is administered intravenously, it accumulates in c-Met expressing high grade dysplasia (HGD) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), enabling (early) cancer visualization using a newly developed fluorescent fiber-bundle. This hypothesis will be tested in the current pilot intervention study.

This pilot clinical trial studies non-endoscopic brushing of the esophagus using a non-endoscopic inflatable balloon for the esophagus in screening for Barrett esophagus, a condition where the lining of the esophagus has changed or been replaced with abnormal cells that may lead to cancer. The non-endoscopic inflatable balloon for the esophagus is a capsule balloon that brushes against the walls of the esophagus to collect esophageal samples. Non-endoscopic brushing of the esophagus using a non-endoscopic inflatable balloon for the esophagus may help doctors find Barrett esophagus sooner, when it may be easier to treat.

This clinical trial studies whether esophageal cytology plus fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is equal to or better than esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) or upper endoscopy for the early detection of esophageal cancer. Genes are the units of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) the chemical structure carrying genetic information that determine many human characteristics. Certain genes in cancer cells may determine how the tumor grows or spreads and how it may respond to different drugs. Part of this study is to test those genes in esophageal cells using FISH.

You are invited to participate in a research study to develop new ways to look for abnormal areas/tissues of the esophagus. The current endoscopes used to look at the esophagus are very good, but if the area doesn't look different to the naked eye, then the endoscope can't improve on that. The investigators are looking at using special fluorescent stains in addition to special endoscopes designed to see abnormal areas that are not obvious to the naked eye. Currently specialized microscopes and fluorescent stains are used in clinical laboratories but it takes several days of processing to get results. It may be very helpful to look for areas to sample for abnormal tissue during the endoscopy procedure. You are being asked to let us use "fluorescent peptides" with a special endoscope that allow us to "see" of your esophagus with both fluorescent and white light during your upper GI endoscopy procedure to help target your biopsies. Peptides are small chains of amino acids (the building blocks that make up proteins) linked together. Our peptide is a chain of 7 amino acids attached to a fluorescent dye called FITC (like the one used by your eye doctor). The investigators have prepared special "fluorescent peptides", that will "glow" when a special light is used that should help us separate normal tissue from abnormal tissue. In this study, the investigators will apply the special fluorescent peptides by a spray catheter to your esophagus to help us target you biopsies. Both routine and targeted biopsies will be taken as your endoscopist feels is indicated. This is a phase 1 study. This means that this is the first time the investigators have used this kind of "fluorescent peptide" in people. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved this agent, but is allowing us to test it in this study. The main goal of this study is to see if there are any side effects from using the peptide. Our second goal is to see if the peptide "glows" well and if the investigators can take pictures of the areas that do glow. This is the first test of this agent, so it won't be used to change how your biopsies are taken nor how your endoscopy is done.

The main purpose of this research is to test the feasibility and tolerability of the tethered capsule Optical Frequency Domain Imaging (OFDI)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a combination of a drug, porfimer sodium, and a light from a non heated laser. The activation of the drug is done by lighting of abnormal areas using a fiber optic device. The fiber optic device is a very fine fiber (like a fishing line) that permits transmission of light. The fiber optic device is inserted into a diffusing balloon device to ensure the good positioning of the fiber optic within the esophagus (food pipe). It is thought that the size and the flexibility of a new diffusing balloon device could improve the safety profile of the photodynamic treatment by reducing the risk of narrowing or closure of the food pipe (esophageal stenosis) sometimes occurring after treatment. This research study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of PDT with porfimer sodium using a new diffusing balloon device for light application in the removal of high-grade dysplasia (HGD, precancerous change in the food pipe tissue) in Barrett's esophagus (BE). This study will provide advanced knowledge about phototoxicity (reaction similar to sunburn) and esophageal stenosis, main risks with this therapy. It will involve 75 patients with HGD in BE across North America and Europe and will last between 13 and 16 weeks. In addition, concentrations of porfimer sodium in the esophageal tissue will be analyzed in a subgroup of patients.

This study is being done to collect data on the potential use of a sponge on a string device as a non-invasive tool in evaluating patients with Barrett's Esophagus compared to healthy controls.

The study consists on determining whether melatonin decreases oxidative stress in Barrett's esophageal mucosa after 6 months of treatment. In order to achieve the clinical trial, the patients will be randomized to two possible arms: omeprazole alone or omeprazole plus melatonin. The patients will be followed around four visits during six months. GERD is one of the most prevalent pathologies in the digestive tract. Barrett's esophagus, a complication of chronic GERD, has attracted the attention of researchers due to its condition of pre-neoplastic lesion. At present, treatment of Barrett's patients is limited to acid inhibition with PPIs. Although there are several studies which indicate that treatment with PPIs could decrease the incidence of high grade dysplasia and EAC, treatment with PPIs does not eliminate the risk of EAC in these patients. Therefore, it is necessary to find chemo-preventive agents that stop neoplastic progression of Barrett's esophagus. Among them, antioxidants have become the most promising agent. This pilot study will determine the efficacy of melatonin in the chemoprevention of EAC. So, the main objective of this study is to determine whether melatonin decreases oxidative stress in Barrett's esophageal mucosa after 6 months of treatment. To evaluate whether melatonin modifies other mechanisms associated to neoplastic progression in BE patients: proliferation and apoptotic index and molecular markers of progression: 17pLOH, 9pLOH, p16 methylation and DNA ploidy (tetraploidy and/or aneuploidy).

To assess diagnostic accuracy and clinical effectiveness including cost-effectiveness analysis of pCLE in patients after finishing the endoscopic treatment of BORN in detecting persistent/recurrent IM, recurrent neoplasia and buried glands.

This randomized phase II trial is studying the effect of esomeprazole magnesium and aspirin on tissue PGE2 levels compared with esomeprazole and placebo. This type of chemoprevention treatment investigates the use of certain drugs to assess whether they assist in the prevention of cancer. The use of esomeprazole magnesium with or without aspirin may help prevent esophageal cancer in patients with Barrett esophagus.