CDx Diagnostics to Unveil New Data Demonstrating a Significant Advance in the Prevention of the Most Rapidly Growing Cancer in the U.S.

SUFFERN, NY--(Marketwired - May 17, 2016) -  CDx Diagnostics today announced that results from a multi-center, prospective, randomized clinical trial demonstrating that WATS^3D (Wide Area Transepithelial Sampling with 3D Tissue Analysis) sharply increases the detection of esophageal dysplasia (precancer), will be presented at Digestive Disease Week® 2016 (DDW), taking place from May 21-24 in San Diego, Calif.

Detecting esophageal dysplasia can prevent the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma, the most rapidly growing cancer in the U.S. and one of the most fatal. In an effort to find esophageal dysplasia before it can progress into cancer, more than five million upper endoscopies are performed each year by gastroenterologists on their patients with chronic heartburn and Barrett's esophagus. Until the advent of the WATS^3D biopsy, these doctors had to rely on taking small random tissue samples during the upper endoscopy, a method that leaves the vast majority of the esophagus untested. 

As a powerful new tool for the prevention of esophageal cancer, the WATS3D biopsy collects a wide area, disaggregated tissue sample of the entire thickness of the suspect epithelium which is then subjected to specialized, computer-assisted, three-dimensional analysis to pinpoint precancerous cells for presentation to a pathologist.

In the study, which will be presented from the DDW podium on Saturday, May 21, WATS^3D was directly compared to the current clinical guideline for gastroenterologists, known as the Seattle protocol, in which four small random biopsies are taken at 1- to 2-cm intervals. 

"Due to the recent introduction of non-invasive, endoscopic ablation, esophageal precancer can now be easily treated," said Mark Rutenberg, Chairman and CEO of CDx Diagnostics, the developer of the WATS^3D diagnostic system. "The remaining obstacle to the prevention of esophageal cancer is identifying those patients with precancer. The powerful results of this carefully performed multicenter study demonstrate that WATS^3D can fill that critical gap in current care, closing the loop on making the most rapidly growing cancer in the U.S. now one of our most preventable cancers." 

Below is the highlighted oral presentation during the conference:
WATS^3D Biopsy Oral Presentation
"Increased Detection of Barrett's Esophagus-Associated Neoplasia Using Wide Area Transepithelial Sampling in Conjunction with 4-Quadrant Forceps Biopsies: Final Results From a Multi-Center, Prospective, Randomized Trial"

Saturday, May 21, 9:00 AM PT
5 SDCC
Prashanth Vennalaganti, MD
GI Fellow, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan. 

For more information about WATS^3D biopsy, please visit the CDx Diagnostics booth #243 throughout DDW or visit www.wats3Dforme.com.

About CDx Diagnostics and the WATS^3D Biopsy
CDx Diagnostics' mission is to provide doctors with the most powerful diagnostic technology to help prevent cancer before it can start. CDx Diagnostics' WATS^3D biopsy addresses the major sampling error inherent in current random forceps biopsy testing of the esophagus. In just a few minutes, endoscopists can easily obtain a wide area, full-thickness transepithelial tissue sample for computer-assisted 3D laboratory analysis. In clinical trials, the WATS^3D biopsy was found to significantly increase the detection rate of both Barrett's esophagus and esophageal dysplasia. The high sensitivity of WATS^3D is due to the large tissue area sampled, and the proprietary 3-Dimensionial computer imaging system that is based on an algorithm developed as part of the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative missile defense program. To learn more about WATS^3D, visit www.WATS3D.com.