Nitrous Oxide For Endoscopic Ablation of Refractory Barrett's Esophagus (NO FEAR-BE)
A multicenter, prospective, single arm, non randomized clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the C2 CryoBalloon Focal Ablation System (CbFAS) for the treatment of persistent dysplasia or intestinal metaplasia (IM) in the tubular esophagus after 3 or more radiofrequency ablations (RFA) for dysplastic BE, or <50% eradication of Barrett's Esophagus (BE) after 2 RFA treatments.
Inclusion Criteria
- History of BE with LGD or HGD confirmed with biopsy, or resected intramucosal cancer (IMC) with low risk of recurrence defined as EMR/ESD pathology results negative for: positive margin, >T1a stage, poorly differentiated carcinoma, and lymphovascular invasion.
- Prior treatment with RFA who meet either of the following criteria at the enrolling EGD: 2.1. History of at least 3 RFA treatments, with one or more of the following:
- 2.1.1. Residual BE Prague >=C1
- 2.1.2. Residual BE >=M1
- 2.1.3. One or more islands of residual BE >=1 cm in diameter
- 2.1.4. Any residual dysplasia in tubular esophagus 2.2. History of at least 2 RFA treatments and < 50% eradication of BE, as judged by estimation of the treating physician.
- 18 or older years of age at time of consent.
- Provides written informed consent.
- Willing to undergo an alternative approved standard of care treatment for their condition.
- Willing and able to comply with study requirements for follow-up.
- No prior history of balloon or spray cryotherapy esophageal treatment. Prior APC is allowable.
Exclusion Criteria
- Residual BE Prague length measuring >C3 or >M8 after RFA treatment.
- Dysplasia or IM confined only to the gastric cardia.
- Pre-existing esophageal stenosis/stricture preventing advancement of a therapeutic endoscope during screening/baseline EGD. Subjects are eligible if the stenosis/stricture is dilated to at least 15mm, but baseline treatment may need to be delayed per protocol.
- Symptomatic, untreated esophageal strictures.
- 5. Any endoscopically visualized abnormalities such as ulcers, masses, or nodules found in the BE during screening/baseline EGD. Subjects with nodular dysplasia or IMC identified during screening/baseline EGD may be treated with EMR or ESD and return for baseline treatment in this study at least 6 weeks later given that: 5.1. Follow-up endoscopy must be negative for nodular dysplasia (visually clear of nodular dysplasia). 5.2. Patients with IMC must be at low risk for recurrence, confirmed by EMR/ESD pathology results negative for: positive margin, >T1a stage, poorly differentiated carcinoma, and lymphovascular invasion.
- EMR or ESD < 6 weeks prior to baseline treatment.
- Untreated invasive esophageal malignancy, including margin-positive EMR/ESD.
- Active reflux esophagitis grade B or higher in the BE assessed during screening/baseline EGD.
- Severe medical comorbidities precluding endoscopy or limiting life expectancy to less than 2 years in the judgment of the endoscopist.
- Uncontrolled coagulopathy.
- Inability to hold use of anti-coagulation medications or non-aspirin anti-platelet agents (APAs) for the duration recommended per ASGE guidelines for a high-risk endoscopy procedure.
- Active fungal esophagitis.
- Known portal hypertension, visible esophageal varices, or history of esophageal varices.
- General poor health, multiple co-morbidities placing the patient at risk, or otherwise unsuitable for trial participation.
- Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during period of study participation.
- Patient refuses or is unable to provide written informed consent.
- Prior esophageal surgery with the exception of uncomplicated nissen fundoplication.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT03554356.
Eligibility will be determined based on historical local pathology and medical record
information. Informed consent will be obtained and eligible subjects will be treated with
the Cryoballoon Focal Ablation System (CbFAS) at baseline.
Subjects will return every 3 months +/- 6 weeks for repeat treatment for up to 12 months
OR until complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CEIM) and complete eradication of
dysplasia (CED) are achieved (at which point subjects enter the follow-up phase),
whichever occurs first.
Treatment procedures will be performed on an outpatient basis according to the site's
standards of care for anesthesia and sedation during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
procedures. EGD examinations will be performed using high definition White Light
Endoscopy (WLE), plus Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) or i-SCAN to assess BE measurements and
identify tissue landmarks and ablation zones.
A high definition endoscope will be used for all ablations performed with the CryoBalloon
Focal Ablation System (CbFAS). The System will be used according to the instructions for
use provided with the product and in accordance with the current standard of care for
treatment of BE.
Repeat cryoablation may be performed if esophageal columnar mucosa is visible on EGD or
if intervening biopsies (if a site chooses to obtain intervening biopsies as standard of
care) are positive for any esophageal columnar epithelium until complete eradication of
all unwanted tissue is achieved.
Intervening endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
after enrollment may be performed for nodular areas detected after baseline. EMR/ESD may
be performed at the same session as the cryoablation if the EMR/ESD site is >=3cm away
from the ablation target site. Cryoablation should be performed before EMR/ESD. If the
EMR/ESD site is within 3cm of target treatment area, then CbFAS will be delayed for at
least 6 weeks.
Residual islands of columnar mucosa of <5 mm in diameter each and <= 3 total can be
treated with Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC) and/or CbFAS at the discretion of the
treating physician to avoid over treatment of neo-squamous mucosa.
Stenosis requiring treatment based on the physician's discretion, which develops after
enrollment, will be treated with standard of care balloon- or wire-guided dilation.
Cryoablation may be performed at the same session if the dilated site is >= 3 cm from the
target cryoablation site. Otherwise, cryoablation will be postponed to another visit
within 1 month +/- 2 weeks.
When CbFAS treatment is received, subjects will be asked to complete assessments
immediately after CbFAS treatment, and will be contacted 1 day, 7 days, and 30 days after
the procedure.
If no visible BE is present during the endoscopy, then at least eight (8) biopsies in
total will be obtained: at least four (4) from the distal esophagus in the neosquamous
epithelium and at least four (4 from the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), top of gastric
folds (TGF), or gastric cardia. Additional biopsies may be taken as per standard of care
guidelines at the site.
Biopsies will be read by local expert pathologist. If biopsies indicate CEIM and CED,
then subjects will enter the 12 month follow-up phase. If biopsies do not indicate CEIM
and CED, then subjects will return for additional CbFAS treatment in 3 months +/-6 weeks.
Non-responders are defined as subjects who have not achieved CEIM and CED at 12 months
post baseline CbFAS treatment. Non-responders at 12 months will exit the study and
continue treatment at the physician's discretion and according to standard of care at
each site.
Subjects who achieve CEIM and CED within 12 months of the baseline CbFAS procedure will
enter a 12 month follow-up phase. Subjects will be followed per routine care guidelines
for their condition, described below:
Subjects with baseline LGD will return at 6 and 12 months from the initial CEIM and CED
date for follow-up (+/-4 weeks). Subjects with baseline HGD or IMC will return at 3, 6,
9, and 12 months from initial CEIM and CED date for follow-up (+/- 4 weeks).
During follow-up procedures, high definition WLE, plus NBI or i-SCAN will be used to
assess BE measurements, and then at least eight (8) biopsies in total will be obtained:
at least four (4) from the distal esophagus in the neosquamous epithelium and at least
four (4 from the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), top of gastric folds (TGF), or gastric
cardia. Additional biopsies may be taken as per standard of care guidelines at the site.
Biopsies will be read by local expert pathologist.
If recurrent BE is detected during follow-up endoscopy with biopsy demonstrating
compatible histology, then subjects will be exited from the study and treated at the
physician's discretion.
Study participation is complete if: 1) Subject has not reached CEIM and CED at 12 month
post baseline treatment; or 2) If BE or dysplasia recur after initial CEIM and CED post
enrollment; 3) Subject is discovered to be ineligible after enrollment; or 4) After
completion of the 12 month follow-up EGD with biopsies.
Trial PhaseNo phase specified
Trial Typetreatment
Lead OrganizationUNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Primary ID18-0388
- Secondary IDsNCI-2018-03912
- ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT03554356