This study will evaluate if the sponge capsule device can accurately detect the presence of Barrett's Esophagus and prevalent dysplasia/adenocarcinoma detection, in a screening population, with and without chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The sponge on a string (SOS) device will be safely administered by a non-physician such as a nurse. Novel discriminant methylated DNA markers will be assayed on esophageal cytology specimens obtained from the SOS device to enable detection in Barrett's Esophagus and prevalent dysplasia/adenocarcinoma detection.

Inclusion Criteria Aim1:

• Male and female ages 50-85

• Patients who have three or more risk factors for Barrett's Esophagus.

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease defined by:

  • Diagnosis
  • Use of one of the following drugs >= 3 months over the last 5 years: omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, dexlansoprazole, lansoprazole, ranitidine, famotidine, cimetidine
  • prior endoscopic diagnosis of erosive esophagitis

• Body mass index (BMI) >= 30

Exclusion Criteria Aim1 and Aim 3:

• Previous history of:

  • esophageal adenocarcinoma/cancer
  • esophageal squamous carcinoma
  • endoscopic ablation for Barrett's esophagus
  • esophageal squamous dysplasia

• Current treatment with oral anticoagulation including Warfarin, Coumadin

• History of cirrhosis

• History of esophageal/gastric varices

• History of Barrett's esophagus

• Prior endoscopy in the last 5 years

Inclusion criteria Aim 2 and Aim 3:

• Subjects with known or suspected BE (cases).

  • Patient between the ages 18 - 90.
  • Patients with a BE segment ≥ 1cm in maximal extent endoscopically or suspected BE in medical record.
  • Histology showing evidence of intestinal metaplasia with or without presence of dysplasia or suspected BE in medical record.
  • Undergoing clinically indicated endoscopy.

• Subjects without known history of BE (controls).

  • Undergoing clinically indicated diagnostic endoscopy.

Exclusion criteria Aim 2:

• Subjects with known BE.

  • Patients with prior history of ablation (photodynamic therapy, radiofrequency ablation, cryotherapy, argon plasma coagulation). Patients with history of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)/endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) alone will not be excluded.
  • Patients with history of esophageal resection for esophageal carcinoma.

• For subjects with or without known evidence of BE (on history or review of medical records):

  • Pregnant or lactating females.
  • Patients who are unable to consent.
  • Patients with current history of uninvestigated dysphagia (this does not apply to the brushings/biopsies only portion of the study).
  • History of eosinophilic esophagitis, achalasia.
  • Patients on oral anticoagulation including Coumadin, Warfarin (this does not apply to the brushings/biopsies only portion of the study).
  • Patients on antiplatelet agents including Clopidogrel, unless discontinued for three to five days prior to the sponge procedure.
  • Patients on oral thrombin inhibitors including Dabigatran and oral factor Xa inhibitors such as rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban, unless discontinued for three to five days prior to the sponge procedure.
  • Patients with history of known esophageal or gastric varices or cirrhosis.
  • Patients with history of surgical esophageal resection for esophageal carcinoma.
  • Patients with congenital or acquired bleeding diatheses.
  • Patients with a history of esophageal squamous dysplasia.
  • Patient has known carcinoma of the foregut (pancreatic, bile duct, ampullary, stomach, or duodenum) within 5 years prior to study enrollment.
  • Patient has received chemotherapy class drugs or radiation to treat mediastinal or esophageal cancer.