Seattle Biopsy Protocol Versus Wide-Area Transepithelial Sampling in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus Undergoing Surveillance
Key facts
- Where
- Aurora, Bristol, Chapel Hill, Chicago, Danville, Gilbert, Knoxville, Los Angeles, New Hyde Park, New York, Oakland, Rochester, and Sarasota, United StatesSee the 14 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 89 years old?
Source: NCT05530343, who can take part
Where in United States
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAurora, United StatesContact: Alexa DeBord, MSTaking people
- Connecticut Clinical Research InstituteBristol, United StatesContact: Salam Zakko, MDTaking people
- University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, United StatesContact: Nicholas Shaheen, MDTaking people
- Northwestern UniversityChicago, United StatesContact: Srinadh Komanduri, MDTaking people
- Geisinger Medical CenterDanville, United StatesContact: Harshit Khara, MDTaking people
- Arizona Centers of Digestive HealthGilbert, United StatesContact: Mankanwal Sachdev, MDTaking people
- Gastrointestinal Associates, PCKnoxville, United StatesContact: Kathy Karnes, BSN, RNTaking people
- UCLA / Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer CenterLos Angeles, United StatesContact: Raman Muthusamy, MDTaking people
- Long Island Jewish Medical CenterNew Hyde Park, United StatesContact: Molly Stewart, BSTaking people
- Weill Cornell MedicineNew York, United StatesContact: Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MDTaking people
- Kaiser PermanenteOakland, United StatesContact: Howard Chang, MDTaking people
- Mayo ClinicRochester, United StatesContact: Prasad Iyer, MDTaking people
- University of RochesterRochester, United StatesContact: Vivek Kaul, MDTaking people
- Suncoast Endoscopy of SarasotaSarasota, United StatesContact: Scott Corbett, MDTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- University of Colorado, Denver
- Trial code
- NCT05530343
- Record updated
- 1 July 2026
- Original description
The purpose of this research study is to learn about the best approach to sample patients with known or suspected Barrett's esophagus (BE) by comparing the standard Seattle biopsy protocol to sampling using wide area transepithelial sampling (WATS3D).Read full original descriptionShow less
A Multicenter Randomized Trial of Seattle Biopsy Protocol Versus Wide-Area Transepithelial Sampling in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus Undergoing Surveillance (The SWAT-BE Study)
The purpose of this research study is to learn about the best approach to sample patients with known or suspected Barrett's esophagus (BE) by comparing the standard Seattle biopsy protocol to sampling using wide area transepithelial sampling (WATS3D).
Barrett's esophagus is a common condition that is used to spot patients at increased risk of developing a type of cancer in the esophagus (swallowing tube) called esophageal adenocarcinoma. The 5-year survival rate is as low as 18% for patients who get esophageal adenocarcinoma, but the rate may be improved if the cancer is caught in its early stages. Barrett's esophagus can lead to dysplasia, or precancerous changes, which occurs when cells look abnormal but have not developed into cancer. If the abnormal cells increase from being slightly abnormal (low-grade dysplasia), to being very abnormal (high-grade dysplasia), the risk of developing cancer (esophageal adenocarcinoma) goes up. Therefore, catching dysplasia early is very important to prevent cancer.
Endoscopic surveillance is a type of procedure where endoscopists run a tube with a light and a camera on the end of it down a patients throat and remove a small piece of tissue. The piece of tissue, called a biopsy, is about the size of the tip of a ball-point pen and is checked for abnormal cells and cancer cells.
Patients are being asked to be in this research study because they have been diagnosed with BE or suspected to have BE, and will need an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Patients with BE undergo sampling using the Seattle biopsy protocol during which samples are obtained from the BE in a four quadrant fashion every 2 cm along with target biopsies from any abnormal areas within the BE. Another sampling approach is WATS3D which utilizes brushings from the BE.
While both of these procedures are widely accepted approaches to sampling patients with BE during endoscopy, there is not enough research to show if one is better than the other.
Participants in this study will undergo sampling of the BE using both approaches (Seattle biopsy protocol and WATS-3D); the order of the techniques will be randomized.
Up to 2700 participants will take part in this research. This is a multicenter study involving several academic, community and private hospitals around the country.
Inclusion: Surveillance Population; Undergoing surveillance endoscopy for a diagnosis of non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE, based on last endoscopic procedure; patients with prior history of low-grade dysplasia/indefinite for dysplasia with NDBE at last endoscopy can be included); Barrett's esophagus (BE) length of at least M1; English and Spanish speaking; Able to comprehend and complete the consent form; Age18-89 years; Life-expectancy of at least 2 years; Screening Population; Undergoing endoscopy for screening of BE; BE length of at least M1; English and Spanish speaking; Able to comprehend and complete the consent form; Age 18-89 years; Expected life-expectancy of at least 2 years; Physicians; -All participating sites will include physicians who are trained in the use of WATS3D and certified by the site PI. All endoscopists will need to complete a minimum of three cases to be eligible to participate in the study.
Exclusion: BE patients undergoing surveillance or evaluation for endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) for prior diagnosis of BE related dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC); Prior history of EET; Prior history of esophageal or gastric surgery, except for uncomplicated fundoplication; BE patients undergoing surveillance or evaluation for EET for prior diagnosis for BE-related dysplasia or EAC; Prior history of esophageal or gastric surgery, except for uncomplicated fundoplication; Surveillance Population; Active erosive esophagitis with LA Grade B or higher; Esophageal varices; Pregnancy; Screening Population; Active erosive esophagitis with LA Grade B or higher; Esophageal varices; Pregnancy.