Sponge-on-a-string test to benefit NHS patients with oesophageal cancer

Eight out of ten patients who took the test were discharged without needing further testing

The NHS has announced that a simple sponge-on-a-string test developed by researchers from the early cancer institute at the University of Cambridge will replace the need for endoscopy to prevent oesophageal cancer.

The NHS trialled the test to help diagnose Barrett’s oesophagus, a condition that affects the food pipe and can lead to oesophageal cancer.

Responsible for around 9,200 new cases every year in the UK, oesophageal cancer occurs in the long, hollow tube that runs from the throat to the stomach, known as the oesophagus.

During the pandemic, the NHS began piloting the test at 30 hospitals across 17 areas in England, including Manchester, Plymouth, London, Kent and Cumbria.

The test requires the patient to swallow a small capsule-shaped device containing a small sponge that collects cell samples for analysis before being extracted via a string attached to the sponge.

In total, over 8,500 patients have been tested with the capsule sponge test, which showed that almost eight out of ten patients who completed the test were discharged without the need for further testing, freeing up endoscopy capacity for those at a higher-risk.

In addition to the test being a quick and short appointment without requiring the need for sedation, the evaluation of the NHS pilot showed that the capsule sponge test was highly cost-effective compared to using endoscopy only for diagnosing patients, saving around £400 per patient.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, commented: “Thousands of people have now benefitted from this incredibly efficient test on the NHS – while the sponge-on-a-string is small in size, it can make a big difference for patients…, [replacing] the need for an endoscopy while also helping to reduce waiting lists by freeing up staff and resources.”

The NHS pilot builds on the BEST4 trial, which was announced and led by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge in January this year.