Non-Invasive Digital Diagnostic Test to Redefine Bladder Cancer Surveillance

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 22 Jul 2022

Image: A non-invasive digital diagnostic test could provide accurate bladder cancer diagnosis (Photo courtesy of Techcyte)

Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers and has a high recurrence rate. After successful treatment, it is recommended that survivors be tested every three to six months for the first two years, every six to 12 months for years three to four, and then yearly from then on. This invasive test for recurrent cancer is painful, time-consuming, and expensive. Despite its high risk of recurrence, less than half of patients actually follow these guidelines. In an effort to improve these numbers, a new collaboration is focusing on the creation of a non-invasive test that will redefine bladder cancer surveillance.

Techcyte, Inc. (Orem, UT, USA) and Cytobay Laboratories, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA, USA) have entered into a collaboration to create a non-invasive digital diagnostic test for bladder cancer. Cytobay, which focuses on developing a non-invasive methodology to diagnose cancer and monitor disease progression, will utilize Techcyte’s Clinical Pathology AI platform to analyze the cells and complete the diagnostic process.

The deep machine learning AI created by Techcyte will accurately and efficiently identify cancerous bladder cells in a fraction of the time and cost compared to current methods. Techcyte’s technology is being used in laboratories for cervical cytology, bacteriology, hematology, and parasitology. This collaboration opens the door for Techcyte to become the first AI platform for bladder cancer diagnostics. Studies show that 75% of bladder cancer is treatable if detected early. AI validation studies are underway, with the product projected to be available winter of 2022.

“Our novel technology enables the evaluation of single cell cytomorphologic and molecular profiles simultaneously, especially in clinical samples only containing a minimal amount of target cells,” said Dr. Wenjiang Chu, founder of Cytobay. “We have automated the slide preparation staining process to highlight uroepithelial carcinoma cells and subsequently transform the landscape of bladder cancer diagnosis.”

“We are on the cutting edge of new non-invasive cancer diagnostics,” added Cytobay’s President and COO, Mitchell Aicher, “Our collaboration with Techcyte will allow us to provide revolutionary, accurate and cost effective cancer diagnostics to those who need it most.”

Related Links:
Techcyte, Inc.
Cytobay Laboratories, Inc.