EMERALD in the making? A promising blood-based microRNA panel to detect oesophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett’s oesophagus

Screening for oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), a lethal cancer, when diagnosed after the onset of symptoms, and its sole known precursor, Barrett’s oesophagus (BO), though suggested by guidelines, remains underused.1 Support for screening is underpinned by level 1 evidence demonstrating the ability of endoscopic therapy of BO dysplasia to prevent progression to OAC and the excellent survival of patients with T1 OAC treated with endoscopic therapy.2