Swallowable tethered capsule to find Barrett's esophagus likely to progress to cancer
Screening for Barrett's Esophagus Progressors with Multimodality Tethered Capsule Image-Guided Biopsy
A swallowable, tethered capsule that images the esophagus and takes tiny targeted tissue samples to find which people with Barrett's esophagus may develop esophageal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143156 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would swallow a thin capsule attached to a tether that can image your esophagus without needing sedation. The device can also guide tiny, targeted biopsies of suspicious areas so those tissue samples can be tested for biomarkers linked to cancer risk, like aneuploidy and abnormal p53. The goal is to identify the small share of people with Barrett's esophagus who are likely to progress to cancer so only they get intensive endoscopic follow-up. This could reduce the number of sedated endoscopies for people at low risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a prior diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus or long-standing acid reflux (GERD) who can swallow a small capsule and attend visits at the study site are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without Barrett's esophagus, those with advanced esophageal cancer, or anyone unable to safely swallow a capsule or with significant esophageal narrowing are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could allow non‑sedated screening and focus endoscopic treatment on the small group of Barrett's patients most likely to develop cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Swallowable capsule devices and tissue biomarkers such as abnormal p53 and aneuploidy have shown promise separately, but combining image-guided tethered capsule biopsies with these biomarkers is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tearney, Guillermo J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Tearney, Guillermo J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.