Swallowed sponge plus portable lab to find esophageal cancer early
Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Esophageal Cancer in LMICs
['FUNDING_U01'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11128493
A small swallowed sponge collects cells and a portable lab-on-a-chip checks DNA signs to find esophageal cancer early for people in low-resource areas.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11128493 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would swallow a tiny capsule attached to a string that releases a sponge to collect cells from your esophagus when pulled back up. The sample is processed on a compact, battery-friendly magnetofluidic chip that purifies DNA, performs bisulfite treatment, and runs PCR to look for cancer-related DNA methylation markers. This approach is designed to work outside hospitals, without endoscopy, and by health workers with limited formal training. If the test suggests cancer, patients can be referred quickly for confirmatory diagnosis and treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People in low- and middle-income countries who are at higher risk for esophageal squamous cell cancer or who have warning signs such as difficulty swallowing or unexplained weight loss would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who already need urgent endoscopy for bleeding or obstruction, or who have cancers not captured by the chosen methylation markers, may not benefit from this test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could detect esophageal squamous cell cancer earlier and speed referrals, improving chances for treatment and survival in low-resource settings.
How similar studies have performed: Sponge-based sampling and DNA methylation tests have shown promise in related esophageal screening work, but combining sponge collection with a portable magnetofluidic methylation test for ESCC is a new application.
Where this research is happening
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES
- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MELTZER, STEPHEN J — JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MELTZER, STEPHEN 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.
Conditions: Cancer Detection, Cancers