Clinical Research Directory

The Johns Hopkins Heartburn Center Registry

A multi-center, multi-year registry of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) undergoing diagnostic evaluation and/or treatment of GERD and associated diseases and complications.

Efficacy of Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers in Barrett's Esophagus (PCAB BE Study)

This is a research study to look at how a new medication compares to standard treatment for reducing acid reflux in patients with Barrett's Esophagus. The study drug is Vonoprazan. This is a pill that is not yet FDA-approved for this purpose in this patient population. The participants will first continue their current acid-reducing medicine (PPI) once a day for at least 7 days. After that, they will have a test to measure acid levels in their esophagus (food tube) while still taking the PPI medication. After this test, they will stop their current PPI medication and start taking the study drug, Vonoprazan, once a day for 7-28 days. They will then have a second acid test while on the study drug (Vonoprazan). Before each test, the participants will complete a short questionnaire about their symptoms. The study team will collect their health history, including medical conditions and current medications. After they finish the study drug, they will have a follow-up visit in about 30 days. The participation in the study will then end.

Novel Biomarkers in the Neoplastic Progression of Barrett's Esophagus

The purpose of this study is to determine if there are any early changes in DNA markers of blood and esophageal tissue in people with gastric reflux, Barrett's esophagus or esophageal cancer that can warn of a progression to esophageal cancer.

InAdvance: Surveillance, Prevention, and Interception in a Population at Risk for Cancer

This research study is creating a way to collect and store specimens and information from participants who may be at an increased risk of developing cancer, or has been diagnosed with an early phase of a cancer or a family member who has a family member with a precursor condition for cancer. * The objective of this study is to identify exposures as well as clinical, molecular, and pathological changes that can be used to predict early development of cancer, malignant transformation, and risks of progression to symptomatic cancer that can ultimately be fatal. * The ultimate goal is to identify novel markers of early detection and risk stratification to drive potential therapeutic approaches to intercept progression to cancer.

Obeticholic Acid for Prevention in Barrett's Esophagus

This phase II trial studies the effect of obeticholic acid in treating patients with Barrett's esophagus. Bile acids present in duodenogastroesophageal reflux contribute to neoplastic progression in Barrett's esophagus. Obeticholic acid has shown anti-cholestatic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects mediated by FXR activation. It down regulates bile acid availability and decreases proinflammatory cytokine production including IL-1beta and TNFalpha in human enterocytes and immune cells. This chain of events reduces the bile acid exposure in esophagus tissue thereby limiting bile acid induced damage and dysplastic progression.

Itraconazole in Combination With Ablation for the Prevention of Esophageal Cancer in Patients With High-risk Barrett's Esophagus

This phase II trial tests how well itraconazole works in combination with the usual standard of care endoscopy with ablation for the prevention of esophageal cancer in patients who have high-risk Barrett's esophagus (BE). BE is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus changes and becomes more like the tissue that lines the intestine. People with Barrett's esophagus have a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer. Itraconazole is a drug used to prevent or treat fungal infections. Ablation refers to the removal of abnormal tissue using heat. Endoscopy is a procedure for looking at the esophagus using a long, flexible tube called an endoscope, which has a video camera at the end. Radiofrequency ablation is a type of heat therapy that uses radiofrequency energy (similar to microwave heat) to destroy the abnormal tissue in the esophagus. Giving itraconazole in combination with standard of care endoscopy with ablation may improve the effects of ablation and prevent esophageal cancer in patients with high-risk Barrett's esophagus.

Non-Endoscopic Detection of Barrett's Esophagus Using Methylation Biomarkers on EndoSign® Cell Collection Device Samples

This study is looking at cells collected from the esophagus using a diagnostic device called the EndoSign® Cell Collection Device (a sponge on a thread). Subjects swallow a capsule, which dissolves in the stomach and releases a sponge that collects cells from the esophagus as the sponge is withdrawn using the thread. These cells will be tested to check for a condition called "Barrett's Esophagus." The cells from the sponge will be tested using Cyted Health biomarkers and compared to the results from a regular endoscopy and any biopsies that are taken. To do this, we need sponge samples from people who might have Barrett's Esophagus based on their risk factors, and from people with Barrett's Esophagus. Subjects will have one visit to have the Endosign Cell Collection Device administered prior to having a standard of care endoscopy. They will answer some questions about their medical history and experience with the cell collection procedure as part of the study. Data will be collected from medical records including post-endoscopy.

Multi-Site Detection of Barrett's Esophagus in Patients Without Chronic GERD Symptoms

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop a method to detect Barrett's esophagus in individuals with a new office based diagnostic test. Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the flat pink lining of the swallowing tube that connects the mouth to the stomach (the esophagus) becomes damaged by acid reflux. The main question it aims to answer is: Can this approach demonstrate efficacy for screening of Barrett's esophagus? Participants will: * Participate in a questionnaire. * Undergo a capsule balloon test, called EsoCheck. * Have their EsoCheck sample sent to the laboratory for an EsoGuard test, which is used to detect Barrett's esophagus. * Participants will undergo upper endoscopy as part of standard of care.

Nitrous Oxide For Endoscopic Ablation of Refractory Barrett's Esophagus (NO FEAR-BE)

A multicenter, prospective, single arm, non randomized clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the C2 CryoBalloon Focal Ablation System (CbFAS) for the treatment of persistent dysplasia or intestinal metaplasia (IM) in the tubular esophagus after 3 or more radiofrequency ablations (RFA) for dysplastic BE, or \<50% eradication of Barrett's Esophagus (BE) after 2 RFA treatments.

Seattle Biopsy Protocol Versus Wide-Area Transepithelial Sampling in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus Undergoing Surveillance

The purpose of this research study is to learn about the best approach to sample patients with known or suspected Barrett's esophagus (BE) by comparing the standard Seattle biopsy protocol to sampling using wide area transepithelial sampling (WATS3D). Barrett's esophagus is a common condition that is used to spot patients at increased risk of developing a type of cancer in the esophagus (swallowing tube) called esophageal adenocarcinoma. The 5-year survival rate is as low as 18% for patients who get esophageal adenocarcinoma, but the rate may be improved if the cancer is caught in its early stages. Barrett's esophagus can lead to dysplasia, or precancerous changes, which occurs when cells look abnormal but have not developed into cancer. If the abnormal cells increase from being slightly abnormal (low-grade dysplasia), to being very abnormal (high-grade dysplasia), the risk of developing cancer (esophageal adenocarcinoma) goes up. Therefore, catching dysplasia early is very important to prevent cancer. Endoscopic surveillance is a type of procedure where endoscopists run a tube with a light and a camera on the end of it down a patients throat and remove a small piece of tissue. The piece of tissue, called a biopsy, is about the size of the tip of a ball-point pen and is checked for abnormal cells and cancer cells. Patients are being asked to be in this research study because they have been diagnosed with BE or suspected to have BE, and will need an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Patients with BE undergo sampling using the Seattle biopsy protocol during which samples are obtained from the BE in a four quadrant fashion every 2 cm along with target biopsies from any abnormal areas within the BE. Another sampling approach is WATS3D which utilizes brushings from the BE. While both of these procedures are widely accepted approaches to sampling patients with BE during endoscopy, there is not enough research to show if one is better than the other. Participants in this study will undergo sampling of the BE using both approaches (Seattle biopsy protocol and WATS-3D); the order of the techniques will be randomized. Up to 2700 participants will take part in this research. This is a multicenter study involving several academic, community and private hospitals around the country.

A Study Comparing the Effectiveness of EndoRotor Versus Radiofrequency in Treating Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett Esophagus is a common pathology, with an estimated prevalence of 1.6% at risk of progression to precancerous mucosa (low to high grade dysplasia). The incidence of adenocarcinoma on BE is 0.5% per year. In the event of dysplasia or cancer in situ, it is currently recommended at international and particularly European level to eradicate BE. The treatment techniques used to date carry out thermal destruction of the BE, in particular by radiofrequency. Eradication of dysplasia is achieved in 81% to 100% and disappearance of BE in 73% to 87% of cases. It requires an average of 3 destruction sessions. RF does not allow histological analysis after destruction of BE, but the risk of progression to neoplasia is estimated at 7.8/1000 persons per year. This risk could be due to the presence of glands buried in the esophageal mucosa. Indeed, these glands are not destroyed by thermal ablation methods, and remain invisible during endoscopic controls. A new treatment technique using the Endorotor® system allows mechanical resection of the entire mucosa in one session of treatment. In addition, the cost of these thermal destruction techniques currently limits their wider diffusion. It is therefore legitimate to propose a less expensive and probably more effective alternative technique.

Minimally Invasive Approaches for the Diagnosis of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Cancer, SOS5C Trial

This clinical trial studies how well minimally invasive approaches (an artificial intelligence \[AI\] powered risk tool, nurse navigation, and a sponge on a string \[SOS\] test) work in diagnosing patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal cancer. Esophageal cancer has a poor 5-year survival rate when diagnosed after onset of symptoms. While rising, incidence of esophageal cancer remains too low to screen the entire population. BE is a condition in which the cells lining the lower part of the esophagus have changed or been replaced with abnormal cells that could lead to esophageal cancer. Currently, patients are screened for BE based on certain risk factors (reflux, age \> 50 years, White race, family history of esophageal cancer, obesity, male sex, and smoking), followed by endoscopies and surgery for treatment. These standard procedures may result in under-recognition of BE risk due to inaccurate and difficult to use risk assessment tools, high cost, invasiveness, low access to endoscopy, and sub-optimal recognition of abnormal cells during routing endoscopy. An AI powered risk tool that integrates symptoms, health history, and laboratory values from electronic health record data may more accurately assess BE and esophageal cancer risk that manual assessment. The BE-SOS screening test combines a swallowable cell collection device with assessment of DNA, which may more accurately diagnose abnormal cells. Nurse navigation involves trained personnel assisting individuals through the screening process and completing the follow-up diagnostic test if the screening test is positive. Navigators address cultural, social, access, and logistical barriers to screening. Nurse navigation may increase completion rates of diagnostic procedures following a positive screening test. These minimally invasive approaches may enable higher rates of BE screening than currently being accomplished.

Aspirin in Preventing Disease Recurrence in Patients With Barrett Esophagus After Successful Elimination by Radiofrequency Ablation

This randomized phase II trial studies the safety of and how well aspirin works in preventing Barrett's esophagus from returning after it has been successfully eliminated by radiofrequency ablation. Studying samples of tissue from patients with Barrett's esophagus for the levels of a specific protein that is linked to developing Barrett's esophagus may help doctors learn whether aspirin can prevent it from returning after it has been successfully treated.

Outcomes After Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) Following Successful Endoscopic Ablation for Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a precancerous lesion characterized by the replacement of the normal stratified squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus by intestinal metaplasia (IM). Non-dysplastic BE may progress to low-grade dysplasia (LGD), to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Endoscopic ablation is safe and effective for complete eradication of BE. However, recurrence is common. Cumulative incidence rate of BE recurrence is up to 30% in the third year. Thus, achieving complete eradication of IM, patients should undergo surveillance indefinitely with serial endoscopy to assess for recurrence of BE. In addition, BE patients have been committed to life-long proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, but increasing concerns about adverse effects has led to alternative therapies. Studies have showed that laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication may decrease recurrence of BE after endoscopic ablation. Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) is an endoscopic procedure that mechanically creates fundoplication similar to traditional operative Nissen fundoplication. The role of TIF in patients with BE whom underwent successful endoscopic ablation has not been fully investigated.

Assessment of a Minimally Invasive Collection Device for Molecular Analysis of Esophageal Samples

This clinical trial evaluates the use of cytosponge, a minimally invasive collection device, for the detection of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in patients undergoing endoscopy. Non-endoscopic swallowable encapsulate sponge cell collection devices combined with markers for BE/esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) detection are a guideline-endorsed alternative to endoscopy for BE screening. The Oncoguard registered trademark Esophagus test (OGE) test uses esophageal cytology specimens collected with a minimally invasive, non-endoscopic, encapsulated sponge sampling device to identify BE/EAC biomarkers that indicate whether a patient should undergo diagnostic endoscopy. The OGE test is a simple and cost effective screening method that may lower barriers to widespread adoption of BE screening in at risk patients, resulting in increased and earlier detection of BE/EAC.

Pilot Study of Salivary Bile Acids and Pepsin as Predictive Biomarkers of Reflux Disease After Sleeve Gastrectomy

The goal of this observational study is to learn whether bile acids and pepsin in saliva can help identify adults at higher risk of developing reflux-related esophageal disease after sleeve gastrectomy, including Los Angeles grade B-D erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus. The study will include adults undergoing sleeve gastrectomy as part of their regular clinical care. Participants will be evaluated before and after surgery and will serve as their own comparison group over time. The main questions it aims to answer are: Are saliva bile acids and pepsin linked to Los Angeles grade B-D erosive esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus after sleeve gastrectomy? How do saliva bile acids and pepsin change before and after sleeve gastrectomy? Can saliva bile acids and pepsin become useful biomarkers for detecting reflux-related esophageal disease after sleeve gastrectomy? Are saliva biomarker levels linked to reflux symptoms and endoscopy results after surgery? Researchers will compare saliva biomarker levels before and after surgery and between participants with and without reflux-related esophageal disease. Participants will: Provide saliva samples before surgery and at 12 and 36 months after surgery Provide fasting and post-meal saliva samples Undergo routine postoperative clinical follow-up and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy Complete reflux symptom questionnaires during follow-up The study will also explore whether saliva biomarkers could help select participants for follow-up endoscopy after sleeve gastrectomy.

C2 CryoBalloon™ 180 Ablation System Dose De-escalation Study.

The primary objective is to determine the safety and efficacy of the C2 CryoBalloon 180 Ablation System ("CryoBalloon 180") used at decreasing doses in ablation naïve patients with low- or high-grade dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus (BE) or with residual BE after resection of dysplasia or early adenocarcinoma.

Longitudinal Oral Microbiome Sampling for BE

This is a longitudinal cohort study to assess the impact of repeated sampling of an oral microbiome signature for Barrett's esophagus (BE). Potential participants will be identified through chart review of patients who have had an endoscopy in the past three years.

Minimally Invasive Molecular Approaches for the Detection of Barrett's Esophagus- High Grade Dysplasia and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

This study explores the use of a minimally invasive screening tool (a sponge on a string device) to detect Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma and to develop a laboratory test for the detection of Barrett's esophagus-high grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Biomarkers of Airway Disease, Barrett's and Underdiagnosed Reflux Noninvasively (BADBURN)

A majority of Fire Department of New York (FDNY) World Trade Center (WTC) exposed rescue and recovery workers developed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a risk factor for Barrett's Esophagus (BE) and subsequent esophageal cancer. There is diminished health-related quality of life and productivity associated with aerodigestive diseases such as GERD and BE. This proposal will leverage the longitudinally phenotyped WTC exposed cohort, validate biomarkers of WTC-aerodigestive disease, and develop novel, noninvasive disease phenotyping of premalignant diseases such as BE, and identify potential targeted therapeutics to improve care.

Impact of RFA on Esophageal Distensibility and Mucosal Impedance

Patients undergoing ablative therapy for management of dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus (BE) will have decreased distensibility over the course of treatment, but improvement in mucosal impedance as BE epithelia is replaced by neosquamous epithelia. This information may lead to further research in predicting therapeutic response and complications. The purpose of this research is to collect information while measuring changes related to the esophagus in patients that receive radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus (BE) or esophageal cancer. Study participation includes measurements of the esophagus with the use of two different devices. This takes place during clinically indicated upper endoscopies during the timeframe the participant is receiving RFA treatments. This process will take up to an additional 10 minutes during the upper endoscopy and be done while the participant is sedated.

Trans-Oral Sampling as an Alternative Surveillance of Barrett's Esophagus Pilot

The study aims to address the increasing incidence of esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus (BE) in the Western world by exploring a more efficient surveillance method. Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has a poor prognosis if diagnosed late, emphasizing the need for early detection strategies. Current surveillance methods, involving regular endoscopies, are burdensome and costly, particularly for low-risk patients. The study investigates the potential of the Endosign, a Trans Oral Sampling (TOS) device, as an alternative to endoscopic surveillance. The objective is to determine if Endosign can provide sufficient quality samples, containing columnar cells and clot preparations at least 5mm in size, thus offering a reliable substitute for endoscopic sampling. The study includes non-dysplastic and dysplastic BE patients undergoing surveillance or treatment and employs a single-center, prospective feasibility approach.

Clinical Utility of WATS3D: A 5-Year Prospective Study

The purpose of this study is to create a registry (collect data and keep it in a research database) to learn more about two methods of taking small tissue samples from your esophagus (the esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach). The two methods of sampling are: 1) Using forceps that take biopsies (small tissue samples) from your esophagus, and 2) Using a brush that also takes biopsies from your esophagus.

A Study of Barrett's Esophagus Patients: Optimization of a Risk Model to Better Predict the Development of Cancer Recurrence and the Effect of Risk Profile Disclosure on Patient Quality of Life and Fear of Cancer

The goal of the study is: * The collection of various tissue samples (blood, biopsies and "esophageal brushes") and their analysis. * To test a risk model based on genetic analyses (DNA-FISH and so-called single cell sequencing) on esophageal tissue samples. * Evaluating the quality of life of Barrett's Esophagus patients and the degree of fear of getting cancer. Patients with a Barrett's Esophagus can participate in the study if they are minimally 18 years old, are capable of giving informed consent (fully understanding what the study entails before giving consent to participate), have Barrett Esophagus and are referred to one of the participating centers due to suspicion of early esophageal cancer, for which the participant will be evaluated by endoscopic imaging and biopsy. Study procedures: An intake consultation will be planned, wherein the eligibility criteria will be assessed, and participant characteristics will be collected. A routine gastroscopy will be planned twice during which several minimally-invasive interventions will be performed: drawing a blood sample, brush cytology during the endoscopy (a brush is used to obtain cells from the surface of the esophagus) and obtaining biopsy samples (small pieces of tissue). Each participant will need to undergo all the interventions. Patients will have to complete questionnaires at several time points to assess their quality of life (EQ-5D-DL questionnaire) and fear of cancer recurrence (Cancer Worry Scale). This study is a randomized trial, meaning the study participants will be divided into two groups by the computer. One group will be informed of their risk profile, established based on the genetic analyses. The other group will not be informed of their risk profile. All patients will be followed-up in a more intensive surveillance schedule compared to the standard of care, for study purposes.