Submitted by Irena Rao on Fri, 11/07/2025 - 11:57
The capsule sponge test, developed by Professor Fitzgerald at the Early Cancer Institute, will be offered in high-street pharmacies as part of an NHS trial to prevent oesophageal cancer.
People with persistent heartburn or acid reflux will be offered the innovative ‘sponge on a string’ test in pharmacies for the first time. These ‘heartburn health checks’ will test for Barrett's oesophagus, which can be a precursor to oesophageal cancer.
The test involves patients swallowing a small capsule sponge pill on a thread, which expands to the size of a 50p when it reaches the stomach. After a few minutes, it is safely pulled out to collect cells from the lining of the oesophagus, which are tested for pre-cancerous changes in the lab.
Delivered by a health professional in under 10 minutes, the test could help shift care from hospitals to the community as part of the 10-Year Health Plan, launched last week by the Government and NHS.
The capsule sponge was developed in Cambridge and builds on decades of research led by Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, director of the Early Cancer Institute and a doctor at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, alongside a team of scientists, clinicians and nurses.
It is currently used in hospitals and Community Diagnostic Centres, helping reduce the need for invasive endoscopies and free up appointments for those at high risk of cancer – and the NHS will now pilot whether care could be made more convenient to help people get tested while they shop.
Pharmacists will help spot patients who are regularly using over-the-counter medications to ease their heartburn or reflux symptoms but haven't come forward to their GP, aiming to spot early changes in the lining of the oesophagus that otherwise may have been missed.
Partnering with Boots and gastrointestinal diagnostics company Cyted Health, from early next year around 1,500 people in London and the East Midlands will be offered the quick and easy test on-site in a pharmacy or be referred to a community-based clinic in their area.
Working closely with Heartburn Cancer UK, the pilot will be accompanied by a locally led public health awareness campaign on the potential signs and symptoms of oesophageal cancer to encourage more people to come forward.
The pilot will run for two years and the outcomes of an independent evaluation will inform decisions about any future roll-out.
Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald said: "My team here at Cambridge have been working on developing the capsule sponge for the last two decades to speed up the diagnosis of Barrett’s oesophagus, which can be a pre-cursor to cancer.
"The development of the capsule sponge was a direct result of working on Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which enables collaboration between clinical researchers and the NHS, ensuring that patients see the results of new research quickly. I'm delighted that more patients from around the UK will now be able to access the test using the capsule sponge from the convenience of their local pharmacy. If we can catch the cancer early, patients can start treatment sooner, which can drastically improve survival."
Eddie Battle-O’Connell, aged 77 from Suffolk credits the sponge on a string test with potentially saving his life after suffering from heartburn for most of his life: "It used to wake me up at night, but I always thought it was just one of those things. To think that something as simple as swallowing a capsule could uncover a hidden risk is truly remarkable. The test was quick, straightforward, and completely changed how I think about my health.
"Knowing I have Barrett’s oesophagus meant I was prioritised, my condition was monitored, and as a result my dysplasia was caught early. I am now able to get targeted treatment to stop my condition progressing to cancer, rather than finding out when it’s too late. This never would have been caught if it wasn’t for capsule sponge testing. This test gave me peace of mind and access to early treatment and could mean the difference between life and death for so many others."
Of almost 10,000 patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK each year, 80% of patients are diagnosed at a late stage, where only 20% of patients survive the year – the key to saving lives is early diagnosis.
Cancer of the oesophagus is more common in older people, and men are more likely to have the cancer compared to women. Smoking, drinking alcohol and obesity are all factors that increase risk of the disease.
The technology has been deployed across the health service elsewhere to help reduce pressure on endoscopy services. The test has helped rule out the need for endoscopy – a more invasive procedure – for thousands of patients, freeing up appointments for those at higher risk of cancer.
The project is one of 7 innovative pilots backed by a £15 million investment aimed to improve the early detection of cancer, as part of the NHS Cancer Programme's Innovation Open Call.