Abstract: The invention generally relates to a microfluidic platforms or “chips” for testing and understanding cancer, and, more specifically, for understanding the factors that contribute to cancer invading tissues and causing metastases. Tumor cells are grown on microfluidic devices with other non-cancerous tissues under conditions that simulate tumor invasion. The interaction with immune cells can be tested to inhibit this activity by linking a cancer chip to a lymph chip.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of detecting and treating a patient suspected of having Barrett's esophagus comprising: obtaining a biological sample from an esophagus of the patient; determining a microbiome in the biological sample by detecting the presence of bacteria by plasmid dilution verification or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR); wherein if the patient has a microbiome indicative of an increased risk of esophageal cancer threating the patient with at least one of: removing at least part of the esophagus, esophagectomy probiotic therapy, or chemically targeting elimination of bacteria indicative of an increased risk of esophageal cancer.