Risk Assessment for Patients with Barrett’s Esophagus
(December 11, 2025) The holiday season is upon us, bringing much fun and festivity. However, overindulging in food and drinks can also result in flare-ups of holiday heartburn, which should NOT be ignored and can be a precursor to esophageal cancer.
Virtua Health now offers TissueCypher®, a groundbreaking test that helps predict a patient’s personal risk of developing esophageal cancer — a major advancement for those with Barrett’s esophagus (BE). Virtua is the first health system in the region to ensure that every patient with BE undergoing a routine endoscopy benefits from this precision medicine test for more accurate staging and personalized treatment plans.
BE is a condition in which chronic acid reflux causes changes in the esophageal lining, increasing the risk of cancer. It commonly arises as a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a disorder caused when stomach acid persistently flows backward into the esophagus.
While most individuals with BE do not develop esophageal cancer, the condition significantly raises that risk. Notably, BE is the only known precursor to this aggressive cancer, which carries a five-year survival rate of less than 20% once symptoms appear. Therefore, cancer prevention is key. By fully implementing the TissueCypher® technology for all Virtua patients with BE, gastroenterologists can now establish more accurate and individualized care plans.
Thirty Years of Reflux: A Patient’s Story
Steven “Steve” Oakley, age 59, of Maple Shade, N.J., has suffered from gastrointestinal reflux for over 30 years. Steve never knew, until recently, that his reflux was a precursor to esophageal cancer.
“I spent most of my life taking TUMS to help with the heartburn I experienced almost every day,” he explained. “I never knew that my heartburn could lead to cancer.”
Seven years ago, Steve had an upper endoscopy, a medical procedure that allows a doctor to examine the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. After that procedure, Steve learned that he has BE. He was prescribed the drug Omeprazole (brand name Prilosec), which is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used to reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Reducing stomach acid helps alleviate reflux and promotes healing of esophageal erosion.
Steve’s most recent endoscopy included a TissueCypher® risk assessment, which provides patients with a personalized risk stratification. Patients are classified as low-risk, intermediate-risk, or high-risk. Patients are also assigned a risk score on a scale of 0 to 10. The lower the number, the lower the likely risk of progression. These risk scores are associated with a risk percentage that tells a patient their likelihood of progressing to cancer within 5 years of the biopsy.
Steve was referred to Virtua gastroenterologist Zubair Malik, MD, medical director of the Virtua Motility & GERD Program, when his TissueCypher® test results indicated that he was a high-risk patient. When repeat biopsies revealed that he was indefinite for dysplasia—the presence of abnormal cells which may signify a stage preceding the development of cancer—Steve underwent Barrett’s ablation—an endoscopic procedure that releases radiofrequency energy to destroy the abnormal cells in the Barrett’s esophagus, which reduces the risk of esophageal cancer, as well as improves symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux.
“TissueCypher® is a game changer for Barret’s esophagus patients,” explained Dr. Malik. “The ability of the technology to assist in the prediction, prevention, and treatment of the disease has the potential to save lives.”
Steve is scheduled for a second ablation procedure. If the biopsies show healthy tissue, he will be monitored with an upper endoscopy every three years.
“It is amazing that, in the seven years since my first upper endoscopy, this technology has become available to patients like me,” said Steve. “I truly believe that my Virtua doctors’ use of TissueCypher® has saved my life.”
To learn more about advanced care for complex digestive issues, visit Virtua’s Motility & Gerd Program.