How It Works

Predicting progression of Barrett's esophagus

TissueCypher was developed to overcome the challenges associated with risk-stratifying non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE) patients. The test characterizes molecular changes in Barrett's esophagus (BE) tissue that precede dysplasia, enabling the identification of progressors and nonprogressors at a treatable precancerous stage. The test uses biomarkers, spatial biology, and an AI-driven risk classifier to identify a patient’s five-year risk of progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

Benefits of a spatialomics approach

Tumors are composed of many interacting cell types – including malignant cells; immune cells, such as macrophages; stromal cells, such as fibroblasts; and endothelial cells – as well as cancer stem cells. Spatialomics evaluates protein expression and the location where the expression occurs (spatial biology), providing a more complete picture of the molecular changes occurring in the BE tissue.

A physician checks the lymph nodes of an older man

TissueCypher testing process

Tissue biopsies submitted

Tissue blocks or slides from standard tissue biopsies are sent to our lab for testing 

Slide staining

Slides undergo multiplexed immunofluorescence staining to visualize nine biomarkers

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Scanning and analysis

Stained slides are digitally scanned and 15 features are characterized by AI-driven image analysis

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TissueCypher reporting

The 15 features are characterized by AI-driven image analysis into a risk score from 0-10, a risk class of low, intermediate, or high-risk, and an associated 5-year risk of progression to HGD or EAC.

Interpreting the molecular signs of progression

TissueCypher uses immunofluorescence to evaluate the expression levels of nine protein biomarkers that are associated with cancer progression. 

 

Protein Markers Tissue Cypher Features
p53, p15, AMACR Loss of tumor suppression and cell cycle control
CD68, COX2 Immune and inflammatory markers
HER-2, K20 Cancer growth and cell transformation
HIF1alpha, CD45RO Angiogenesis and memory lymphocyte infiltration

TissueCypher’s vision system characterizes seven tissue structures to identify features that are used by the TissueCypher Risk Classifier. 

 

Stroma, Epithelial nuclei, Cells, Epithelium, Nuclei, Cytoplasm, Metaplastic epithelium

TissueCypher evaluates 15 features that were shown during the GAPP1 Study to contribute to the predictive power of TissueCypher’s risk classifier.

 

Protein markers Protein function
p53 p53 nuclear sum intensity
p53 p53 nuclear mean intensity
HER2/neu and K20 Ratio of mean HER2/neu intensity:mean K20 intensity in nuclei clusters
HER2/neu and K20 Ratio of 95th quantile HER2/neu intensity:95th quantile K20 intensity in nuclei clusters
COX-2 and CD68 Coexpression cellular COX2 mean intensity and cellular CD68, mean intensity
p53 p53 mean intensity in nuclei clusters
p53, p16 and nuclear morphology (solidity) Nuclear solidity in p53+ p16- cells
CD45RO CD45RO plasma membrane sum intensity
AMACR AMACR microenvironment SD
COX2 COX-2 texture in cytoplasm
HIF1α HIF1α microenvironment cell mean intensity
HIF1α HIF1α microenvironment cell moment (product of mean and standard deviation)
p16 p16 cytoplasm mean intensity
p53, p16 and nuclear morphology (area) Nuclear area in p53+ p16- cells
Nuclear morphology Hoechst nuclear 95th quantile intensity

 

 

 

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