Study to Understand Factors Causing and Progressing Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Barretts Esophagus with Creation of a Patient Registry

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to identify risk factors such as smoking and family history that contribute to esophageal cancer, focusing on patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD and Barretts esophagus BE. The study seeks to understand genetic changes leading to cancer and develop a decision model for risk stratification and reduction. GERD affects a large portion of adults, particularly older males, and BE is a known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is rapidly increasing in incidence. The study is a prospective observational cohort conducted at the Kansas City VA Medical Center involving three groups patients with Barretts Esophagus with or without dysplasia, patients with GERD symptoms undergoing endoscopy, and control patients undergoing endoscopy for other reasons. Participants will complete questionnaires on GERD severity, diet, medication, family, and social history. Medical records will be reviewed for relevant findings, and blood and tissue samples will be collected for biomarker and genetic studies. Participants will be followed for over five years to monitor the progression from GERD to BE, dysplasia, and adenocarcinoma. Researchers will collect clinical data, pathology reports, and biospecimens to study disease progression and identify risk factors. The study also aims to build a tissue and serum repository for future research. The total participation time and safety monitoring details are based on ongoing routine surveillance endoscopies and clinical follow-up.

Progression of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Barrett's Esophagus and the Creation of a Barrett's Registry