The CytospongeTM is a “pill-on-a-string” less invasive alternative to endoscopy which has been developed primarily for the diagnosis of Barrett’s oesophagus, a precursor to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. It was developed by the Fitzgerald Lab, at the University of Cambridge MRC Cancer Unit in the UK. Together with this Cambridge team, CytoSCCAPE is investigating the potential of using the Cytosponge in East Africa for both aetiologic and early-detection research.
As a first step in this development, we have conducted a feasibility study to assess acceptability of the Cytosponge in an asymptomatic community setting. The first 100 sponges were administered in Moshi, Tanzania, during September 2019-January 2020.
The CytoSCCAPE feasibility study results are now published. They demonstrate the safety, acceptability and feasibility of Cytosponge sampling in the Tanzanian community setting, paving the way for innovative etiology and early-detection research. Read the full results here: Minimally invasive esophageal sponge cytology sampling is feasible in a Tanzanian community setting. Middleton DRS, Mmbaga BT, O'Donovan M, Abedi-Ardekani B, Debiram-Beecham I, Nyakunga-Maro G, Maro V, Bromwich M, Daudi A, Ngowi T, Minde R, Claver J, Mremi A, Mwasamwaja A, Schüz J, Fitzgerald RC, McCormack V. Int J Cancer. 2020 Oct 31. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33366