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The study presents an orally drinkable methylcellulose/xanthan gum gene therapy foam that coats the esophagus and concentrates mRNA lipid nanoparticle therapy at a tumorous stricture, showing markedly enhanced tumor regression in vitro and improved anti-tumor effects when used before 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performance compare with suspension treatment?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"In an in vitro esophageal cancer tissue model, the foam induced 110-fold higher tumor regression than suspension treatment.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},352700,1790476574,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & 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constrictive esophageal carcinoma  \nSirkka B. Stephan1, Carrie L. Cummings1, Katelyn Fitzgerald1 and Matthias T. Stephan 1,2,3 ✉  \n© The Author(s) 2026  \n|  |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n|  | Patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer (EC) currently rely on treatments given at specialist care centers (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation), which despite their low cure rates are extremely life-disruptive, cause severe pain, and have strong side effects. In particular, dysphagia is one of the most distressing and debilitating symptoms in patients with cancer-related esophageal obstruction. There is clearly an urgent need for new effective and accessible therapies for EC patients that allow patients to continue normal activity as much as possible. Here, we describe a drinkable methylcellulose/xanthan gum-based gene therapy foam that coats the esophagus and accumulates an apoptosis-inducing gene therapy drug (mRNA lipid nanoparticles encoding Pseudomonas exotoxin A) at the tumorous esophageal stricture. In an in vitro EC tissue model, we show that gene therapy foam induces 110-fold higher tumor regression compared to suspension treatment. We also establish that gene therapy foam given prior to radiotherapy strongly enhances anti-tumor effects. Once implemented in the clinic, this treatment, which can be administered orally by a local family doctor or at home by the patient or caregiver, could maximize the time EC patients can live normal lives |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n| outside of the hospital and allow them to maintain their ability to swallow and eat. |  |  |\n|  | Gene Therapy (2026) 33:118–126; [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-026-00592-7](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-026-00592-7) |  |\n|  |  |  |\n\nINTRODUCTION  \nEven after decades of clinical and experimental research, the treatment of esophageal cancer (EC) patients still remains challenging. EC, particularly esophageal adenocarcinoma, is currently the most rapidly increasing solid malignancy in the United States and the Western world [1]. Unfortunately, due to the paucity of symptoms associated with this condition, patients usually present with advanced stage disease. Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), the most common symptom of EC, does not develop until approximately twothirds of the esophageal lumen has been obliterated [2]. Thus, the majority of patients do not qualify for esophagectomy (surgical removal of all or part of the esophagus) due to their advanced disease stage or the presence of other medical conditions [3]. Many also refuse surgery due to the potential for serious complications and its high mortality rate, ranging from 4 to 11% within 30 days of surgery [4, 5]. As a result, palliative chemoradiation therapy aimed at relieving symptoms and potentially prolonging survival remains the only option for patients with advanced EC [6]. To access this care often means that patients must travel away from home. According toa recent study, EC patients currently spend approximately 37 days away from home in health care facilities just to receive chemotherapy [7]. Many rural areas lack specialized medical facilities, equipment, and trained personnel. Additionally, transportation can be asignificant issue in rural areas, particularly for patients who require frequent treatments [8]. Thus, fundamentally new methods of care are needed to effectively treat EC patients in an outpatient setting without disrupting their daily living and quality of life.  \nOur group has recently discovered that embedding gene therapy vector (nonviral or viral) in a methylcellulose/xanthan gum-based foam formulation substantially boosts their transfection efficiencies in situ, compared to liquid-based gene therapy, without triggering toxicities [9] . Here, we developed a drinkable gene therapy foam with anti-tumo","cbCaiiHn3EVifJ9w","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiiHn3EVifJ9w","pdf",4144714,"English","# Introduction\n## Unmet needs in esophageal cancer care\n## Rationale for an orally administered gene therapy foam\n## Development of an in vitro tissue model","[{\"question\":\"Why is dysphagia especially concerning in esophageal cancer patients?\",\"answer\":\"Dysphagia is the most common symptom and becomes apparent only after a large portion of the esophageal lumen is obstructed, making swallowing and eating increasingly difficult.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the gene therapy foam made of and how does it work?\",\"answer\":\"The foam is based on methylcellulose/xanthan gum and coats the esophagus, accumulating mRNA lipid nanoparticles that deliver an apoptosis-inducing drug at the tumorous stricture.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the foam’s performance compare with suspension treatment?\",\"answer\":\"In an in vitro esophageal cancer tissue model, the foam induced 110-fold higher tumor regression than suspension treatment.\"}]","Drinkable gene therapy foam for the treatment of constrictive esophageal carcinoma | PDF",1790100987,23]