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Esophageal cancer, the world's 8th most common cancer, claims more than 400,000 lives each year. Symptoms often manifest in the later stages of the disease, with little hope of survival, and traditional tests are inaccurate.
A study published today in Clinical research on cancer could pave the way for simple and inexpensive screening for the deadly disease.
EsophaCap consists of a small capsule to which is attached a long string that the patient swallows. After reaching the stomach, the capsule liner begins to dissolve.
Inside is a 2-centimeter sponge attached to the string, most of which still comes out of the patient's mouth. When the sieve pulls the string, the sponge comes out of the patient's mouth and collects a rich stock of genetic material during its journey.
The sponge is then sent for a genetic test that determines the risk of cancer of the patient's esophagus.
Ninety-four people received EsophoCap as part of the study. Of these subjects, 85% were able to swallow the capsule and the sponge was successfully recovered. No signs of bleeding, pain, trauma, or other adverse reactions to the test.
Of the patients who were able to swallow the capsule, almost half were diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus. The rate is much higher than that of the general population of the United States, but most of the patients studied were treated for gastrointestinal symptoms.
Source: EurekAlert !, 22 January 2019
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