OSWEGO — TissueCypher is a laboratory test that can help predict the risk of developing esophageal cancer in patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus (BE). The Center for Gastroenterology & Metabolic Diseases of Oswego Health Medical Practice is now offering access to this AI-driven precision medicine test, per a June 30 announcement. Offering this test is […]
OSWEGO — TissueCypher is a laboratory test that can help predict the risk of developing esophageal cancer in patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus (BE).
The Center for Gastroenterology & Metabolic Diseases of Oswego Health Medical Practice is now offering access to this AI-driven precision medicine test, per a June 30 announcement.
Offering this test is a “major step forward in the Center’s commitment to bringing the latest, evidence-based diagnostic tools to the community,” Oswego Health contends.
BE is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the fastest-growing cancers in the U.S. Fortunately, BE can be effectively treated to prevent progression to EAC if the patient is identified as having elevated risk, Oswego Health stated.
That’s where TissueCypher comes in: the test evaluates a patient’s tissue biopsy at the cellular and molecular level to provide a personalized five-year probability of progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal cancer.
No new procedures are needed to run the test — biopsies just need to be sent to Castle Biosciences, the company that developed the TissueCypher test, Oswego Health said.
“Early intervention can be lifesaving, and TissueCypher helps us provide a more accurate picture of an individual’s cancer risk,” Dr. Mohammad Fahad Ali, chief of gastroenterology & hepatology and director of endoscopy at the Center for Gastroenterology & Metabolic Diseases, said.
Dr. Ali spearheaded the initiative to make this test available to the community, Oswego Health noted.
TissueCypher represents a significant improvement over traditional risk assessment methods, which often misclassify patients, per the announcement. The test provides a risk classification: low, intermediate, or high; a risk score on a scale of 0–10; and a 5-year individualized risk of progression to HGD or EAC.
Oswego Health encourages those experiencing chronic acid reflux or who have a family history of BE or esophageal cancer to speak with their health-care provider about screening.
