A sponge on a thread placed in a soluble capsule allows you to easily take a sample of cells from the esophagus, which will facilitate early diagnosis of this organ cancer, according to Nature Genetics.
Until now, a serious diagnostic problem was the randomness of the results – when collecting a sample for testing, it was difficult to find pathologically changed cells.
Cytosponge sponge developed by prof. Rebecca Fitzgerald from the University of Cambridge is to allow for more confident diagnosis. A tightly rolled piece of sponge resembling a small dishwasher is placed in the capsule, which dissolves when swallowed. The expanded sponge rests against the walls of the esophagus. Since it is on a thread, it is easy to pull out along with exfoliated cells from the entire length of the esophagus – also cancerous. These cells are tested with a method developed at the University of Cambrigde to detect changes characteristic of cancer or dysplasia.
Esophageal cancer is often preceded by precancerous changes – the so-called Barrett’s esophagus, with characteristically altered cells. Barrett’s esophagus appears in 10-20 percent. People with gastro-oesophageal reflux, which is the reflux of stomach acid and bile into the esophagus that causes heartburn. Cambridge researchers found DNA alterations in Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer related to acid reflux.