Scientists create 'cytosponge' to detect oesophageal cancer

It comprises a ‘cytosponge’ compressed inside a gelatin pill capsule on a string, which is swallowed and dissolved before the expanded sponge is pulled back up to retrieve a cell sample.

Persistent heartburn or indigestion, caused by stomach acid coming back up the gullet, is a major risk factor for cancer of the oesophagus. Over time, this can cause the cells lining the lower oesophagus to start to resemble those found in the small and large intestines, a condition known as Barrett’s oesophagus.

If the condition can be diagnosed before cancer develops, patients can be offered closer monitoring and treatment to help remove abnormal cells.

However, most patients with heartburn symptoms take medication without ever having an endoscopy, meaning cases of Barrett’s oesophagus often go undiagnosed.

At present, the condition can only be detected by endoscopy — a relatively expensive procedure that involves putting a camera down the throat to collect a sample of the cells for analysis under the microscope.