# Early Targets in Progression of Barrett's Esophagus to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $939,989

## Abstract

- Project Summary/Abstract
 Recently, the incidence of esophageal (EAC) and gastro-esophageal junction (GEJAC) adenocarcinoma
has increased dramatically, and have a poor 5-year survival rate of less than 15%. When detected early, these
patients can have a good clinical outcome following surgery. These observations underscore the importance
of early cancer detection. Patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) are known to be at increased risk.
 Our overarching goal is to advance new methods of imaging to visualize the effects of spatial distribution
of genetic alterations in BE by using novel imaging methods to evaluate tumor heterogeneity on the
progression toward EAC. We propose a multi-institutional, trans-disciplinary, translational Research Center in
the Barrett's Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet). Our mission is to build on our expertise
in genomic characterization, peptide biochemistry, and clinical translation to achieve our ultimate goal to
perform early cancer detection at an early stage where therapeutic intervention can be most effective. We will
identify a complementary panel of genes that are overexpressed on the cell surface and will be used to
develop and validate new peptide imaging agents. The targets chosen will address 3 important clinical needs:
1) Real-time endoscopic identification of pre-malignant lesions and early stage cancer to guide endoscopic
resection; 2) Risk stratification of BE patients for timing of endoscopic surveillance; and 3) Detection of gastro-
esophageal junction adenocarcinomas in patients without endoscopic appearance of BE.
 We will use state-of-the-art genomic tools to to identify early overexpressed gene targets that arise in
progression of BE to EAC by providing comprehensive analyses of gene expression alterations, DNA copy
number variation, and genetic mutations. We will select candidate genes that are expressed on the cell
surface where they can be endoscopically imaged in vivo. We will rigorously validate the panel of candidate
targets with quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays using an independent
cohort of human esophagus specimens. We will use these targets to first identify and validate monomer
peptides that are highly specific. We will then arrange monomer peptides in a dimer configuration to produce
multivalent ligand target interactions to improve binding performance and allow for early targets to be detected
at low levels of expression. We will use a flexible fiber multi-spectral endoscope that can pass through the
working channel of a standard medical endoscope to detect multiple targets at the same time.
 Successful completion of these aims will provide an integrated multi-spectral imaging methodology to
longitudinally visualize overexpressed molecular targets that drive progression of Barrett's esophagus to
esophageal adenocarcinoma. This innovative approach can serve as the foundation for validated preventive
measures to improve patient manage...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9948581
- **Project number:** 5U54CA163059-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Adam Joel Bass
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $939,989
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-09-21 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9948581

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9948581, Early Targets in Progression of Barrett's Esophagus to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (5U54CA163059-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9948581. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*