Cambridge Case:Control Cytosponge II Study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Assessment of a minimally invasive oesophageal cytology collection system (CE marked) in patients with Barrett's Oesophagus (specimen adequacy, biomarker sensitivity and specificity for BO, and safety

  • IRAS ID

    196932

  • Contact name

    Rebecca Fitzgerald

  • Contact email

    rcf29@mrc-cu.cam.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Barrett’s Oesophagus (BO) is a recognized precursor lesion for oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). The risk for OAC is higher depending on the severity of baseline dysplasia grade. Current surveillance strategies are not optimal for this disease state, as they are hindered by cost issues, inter-observer variability in histology interpretation, biopsy sampling error (under and over staging), and the fact that surveillance alone does not prevent disease progression.

    The treatments for intra-epithelial neoplasia in BO have recently undergone a paradigm shift with the rapid development of outpatient endoscopic technologies, such as mucosal resection and radiofrequency ablation. The ideal method for diagnosing BO is white light upper endoscopy and biopsy, despite limitations such as the invasiveness of the procedure, the need for great expertise, the high cost, and the subjective nature of the diagnosis.

    There exists a need for a safe, minimally invasive, inexpensive, and easily administered method aimed at the primary care setting to diagnose BO. We have shown that non-endoscopic screening is feasible and safe using a new device called the capsule sponge, or Cytosponge I, which was developed in our laboratory. This device has received a letter of non-objection from the MHRA.

    Presently, a refined version of our Cytosponge I (hereafter, Cytosponge II) is available from Medtronic previously known as Covidien GI Solutions. Cytosponge II was developed from the Cytosponge I specification and design, with the additional priority of a more reproducible manufacture, standardization of dimensions, and other quality related items. It has now received CE marking for use in Europe including the UK.

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/EE/0017

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 Mar 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion