If you have a hard-to-identify cancer, your doctor may recommend the Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test. The test provides information that may help your doctor identify the source of your tumor in order to determine the best treatment plan for you.

Sometimes tumor cells can change appearance, making it difficult for doctors to know from what part of the body the tumor originated. (Your doctor may refer to this as the "primary site.") In some challenging cases, traditional tests are unable to provide this information.

Cancers are named according to their primary site, regardless of where in the body they are found. For example, a kidney cancer that spreads to the lungs is still classified as a kidney cancer. National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines emphasize the importance of treating a cancer based on its origin. Knowing what kind of cancer you have enables your doctor to begin appropriate treatment as soon as possible.

The Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test uses advanced technology to compare a molecular "fingerprint" of your tumor to those of 15 common types of cancer. This helps determine what type of tumor you most likely have – even when other tests may not be able to.

The test is done on a small amount of tissue that is removed from the tumor during surgery and quickly frozen. When your doctor orders the test, the tissue sample is sent to Pathwork Diagnostics Laboratory where it is processed and analyzed.

The test's accuracy has been demonstrated in a scientific study that verified results obtained with the Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test on samples of a known tissue of origin. In this study, the Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test results matched the reported tissue of origin in 89 percent of samples tested.*

For more information about reimbursement, download the Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test Patient Brochure.

* Monzon FA, Lyons-Weiler M, Buturovic LJ, et al. Association for Molecular Pathology Annual Meeting, 2007, Abstract #ST02