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The Microbiome, Bile Acids, and Notch in Barrett's Esophagus (BE)

The Role of the Microbiome and Notch Signaling in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05524844
Enrollment
54
Registered
2022-09-01
Start date
2021-02-09
Completion date
2024-11-01
Last updated
2025-05-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Barrett Esophagus, Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Keywords

Saliva, Microbiome

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to prospectively collect and analyze clinical data and biospecimens from a cohort of 100 patients without BE (20), with non-dysplastic BE (40), or with BE and high grade dysplasia (HGD) or EAC (40). The investigators will enroll 80 patients scheduled for upper endoscopy for clinical purposes, with a history of histologically confirmed BE (2 cm length); 40 with no history of dysplasia, and 40 with HGD or EAC. The investigators will also enroll 20 non-BE controls undergoing endoscopy for any indication who are on stable dose proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) for the past month. PPI therapy is standard of care for BE patients.

Detailed description

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has risen 10-fold over the past half century and continues to have a dismal prognosis. Known risk factors for EAC do not adequately explain these incidence trends; the rise in EAC cases began a decade before increases in the prevalence of both gastro-esophageal reflux disease and obesity. Over the past 50+ years, dramatic changes in the bacterial composition (or microbiome) of the upper gastrointestinal tract have also occurred. While prior work has shown correlations between the microbiome, BE, and EAC, there is a critical knowledge gap on mechanisms by which bacteria interact with the esophagus and potentially promote cancer. The investigators hypothesize that increased levels of the certain bile acids in gastroesophageal reflux fluid cause changes that lead to increased interaction between bacteria and the esophagus, which may promote the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The investigators will carry out a case-control study of patients with and without BE, dysplasia, or EAC. The investigators will focus on deoxycholic acid in gastro-esophageal refluxate and its association with Notch signaling in tissue and bacterial composition. The microbiome represents a novel and potentially modifiable risk factor for the development of BE and EAC. Elucidation of microbiome features and mechanisms that promote the development of EAC is a critical step that will lead to subsequent trials of antibiotics, probiotics, and other interventions targeted to altering the microbiome, with the goal of lowering the risk of this highly lethal malignancy.

Interventions

OTHERSample Collection

Saliva, gastric aspirate, and esophageal brushings and biopsies.

OTHEREndoscopy results

Results from standard of care endoscopy (scheduled separate of study)

Diet History Questionnaire (II)

Sponsors

Weill Medical College of Cornell University
CollaboratorOTHER
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
Columbia University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

All subjects: * Scheduled for an upper endoscopy * Taking stable dose of a proton pump inhibitor at least once daily for 1 months prior to enrollment * Eighteen years of age or older * Able to give informed consent Barrett's esophagus subjects only: * Histologically confirmed BE (defined as endoscopically- suspected BE with intestinal metaplasia with goblet cells on esophageal biopsies) * Maximal BE length ≥ 2 cm (Prague criteria: any C, M≥2)

Exclusion criteria

All subjects: * History of head and neck cancer or esophageal or gastric cancer (except esophageal intramucosal adenocarcinoma) * History of esophageal or gastric surgery * Use of antibiotics or immunosuppressants within 1 month prior to endoscopy Barrett's esophagus subjects only: • History of prior endoscopic therapy for BE, except a history of prior endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of focal lesions withoutsubsequent ablative therapy is permitted

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Concentration of Deoxycholic Acid (DCA)2 yearsTo determine whether refluxate deoxycholic acid (DCA) is associated with increased Notch signaling in the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the investigators will calculate Pearson's correlation coefficients to assess within individual correlations between DCA and NOTCH3 gene expression.
Correlation between Enterobacteriaceae (from 16S) and NOTCH3 expression in BE tissue.2 yearsThe within-individual correlation will be calculated.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026