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'Pill-on-a-thread' cancer screening trial comes to Lancashire - BBC News

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www.bbc.co.uk

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A healthcare worker wearing gloves and a protective apron removes a capsule sponge device from the mouth of a seated trial participant inside a mobile screening unit. The procedure uses a thread attached to a small sponge, which is collected after being swallowed and expanded in the stomach. The image illustrates the "pill-on-a-thread" test being used to collect cells from the oesophagus as part of oesophageal cancer screening research.

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'Pill-on-a-thread' cancer screening trial launches in Lancashire

Overview

A new clinical trial testing a 'pill-on-a-thread' device for early detection of oesophageal cancer has expanded to Lancashire using mobile screening vans. Backed by Cancer Research UK and the NIHR, the BEST4 Screening trial aims to recruit 120,000 people across the UK as a quicker, less invasive alternative to traditional endoscopies for individuals with chronic heartburn.

Key points

  • Paul Burrows, a 70-year-old from Lancashire, is among the volunteers participating in the pioneering cancer screening trial.
  • The 'pill-on-a-thread' device involves swallowing a small capsule that dissolves in the stomach into a sponge, which then collects cells from the oesophagus as it is gently pulled back out.
  • The mobile screening units are operating in Penwortham and Preston as part of the BEST4 Screening trial.
  • The test targets individuals who take regular medication for chronic heartburn or acid reflux, which are common symptoms of Barrett's oesophagus.
  • Researchers hope the procedure will offer a less invasive alternative to hospital endoscopies and potentially pave the way for a national NHS screening programme.
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