Products

PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS TISSUE OF ORIGIN TEST
PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS
Oncology AI
The Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test is an FDA-cleared molecular diagnostic test that uses AI-powered gene expression profiling to help identify the primary site of challenging cancers, aiding oncologists in treatment decisions.
PATHWORK TISSUE OF ORIGIN TEST KIT-FFPE (ORIGIN TEST KIT-FFPE
PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS
Oncology AI
A molecular diagnostic test that uses microarray-based RNA profiling and a machine learning algorithm to help pinpoint the origin of hard-to-identify tumors, aiding physicians in optimizing cancer therapies.
TISSUE OF ORIGIN TEST KIT FFPE
PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS
Oncology AI
An FDA-cleared molecular diagnostic test kit by Pathwork Diagnostics that aids physicians in determining the tissue of origin for challenging tumors using gene expression profiling of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens.

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About PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS

Pathwork Diagnostics was a pioneering molecular diagnostics company focused on oncology, known for developing the Pathwork® Tissue of Origin Test. This innovative gene expression-based test was designed to assist physicians in identifying the primary site of difficult-to-diagnose tumors, including those that were poorly differentiated, undifferentiated, or metastatic. By analyzing a tumor’s genomic information through microarray-based RNA profiling, the test provided objective classification support when conventional pathology methods were insufficient.

The Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test utilized a proprietary informatics platform to compare the gene expression patterns of an uncertain tumor against a comprehensive database of known tumor types. This approach aimed to enhance diagnostic certainty, thereby enabling oncologists to make more informed, cancer-specific treatment decisions and potentially improve patient outcomes in precision oncology. The test was FDA-cleared as an in vitro diagnostic kit and was also available as a service through Pathwork’s CLIA-certified laboratory.

Pathwork Diagnostics was acquired by Response Genetics in August 2013. As of current information, the company is described as ‘deadpooled’ by some industry trackers, indicating it no longer operates as an independent entity. While not explicitly branded as an ‘AI company’ in the modern sense of deep learning, its reliance on advanced genomic analytics and proprietary informatics platforms for diagnostic insights represented a significant computational advancement in healthcare diagnostics at the time.

Focus Areas

Oncology Molecular Diagnostics Gene Expression Profiling Tissue of Origin Testing Cancer of Unknown Primary

Business Intelligence

Key InvestorsAbingworth, Advent Venture Partners, Alta Partners, Novus Ventures, Prospect Venture Partners, Venrock, Versant Ventures
PartnershipsNovartis (diagnostic discovery collaboration), Kindstar Diagnostics (distribution in China)
AcquisitionsAcquired Pathwork Informatics by Predicant Biosciences (2006); Assets acquired by Response Genetics (2013)
TechnologyMicroarray-based RNA profiling, Gene expression profiling, Proprietary analytics, Pathchip® microarray, Affymetrix GeneChip® System
FDA Clearances1 cleared products (estimated)

What Physicians Need to Know

Oncology Focus
Specializes in high-value molecular diagnostics for oncology, particularly addressing challenging tumor cases and improving cancer care.
Molecular Diagnostics Pioneer
A leader in developing and commercializing innovative microarray-based gene expression profiling for cancer diagnosis.
Gene Expression Profiling
Utilizes microarray-based RNA profiling to measure the expression patterns of over 1,500 genes, comparing patient specimens to a database of 15 known tumor types representing 60 morphologies.
Tissue of Origin Testing
Offers the Pathworku00ae Tissue of Origin Test, which is the only FDA-cleared molecular test of its kind to assist in determining the origin of uncertain tumors.
Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP)
Specifically designed to aid in the diagnosis of Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP), which accounts for 2-5% of all cancer diagnoses, by identifying the primary tumor site.
Physician Tip

Pathwork Diagnostics stands out for physicians by providing crucial genomic insights that transform cancer care. The Pathworku00ae Tissue of Origin Test reduces diagnostic ambiguity for metastatic or poorly differentiated tumors, offering objective classification support when conventional pathology is insufficient. This enables oncologists to prescribe more appropriate, site-specific, and targeted therapies, potentially improving patient outcomes and avoiding the toxicities of less-specific treatments. The test increases physician confidence in treatment approaches and is practical for routine clinical use as it works on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, the most common clinical specimen type. It's available both as a service through their CLIA-certified laboratory and as an FDA-cleared in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit for clinical laboratories.

The core technology relies on microarray-based RNA profiling, utilizing Pathwork Diagnostics' proprietary analytics and a companion Pathchipu00ae microarray. This Pathchipu00ae microarray runs on the proven Affymetrix GeneChipu00ae System. The test is available as a service through Pathwork's CLIA-certified laboratory and as an FDA-cleared in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit for clinical laboratories to run themselves.

Products by PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS

3 products in the directory

PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS TISSUE OF ORIGIN TEST
PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS
Oncology AI
The Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test is an FDA-cleared molecular diagnostic test that uses AI-powered gene expression profiling to help identify the primary site of challenging cancers, aiding oncologists in treatment decisions.
PATHWORK TISSUE OF ORIGIN TEST KIT-FFPE (ORIGIN TEST KIT-FFPE
PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS
Oncology AI
A molecular diagnostic test that uses microarray-based RNA profiling and a machine learning algorithm to help pinpoint the origin of hard-to-identify tumors, aiding physicians in optimizing cancer therapies.
TISSUE OF ORIGIN TEST KIT FFPE
PATHWORK DIAGNOSTICS
Oncology AI
An FDA-cleared molecular diagnostic test kit by Pathwork Diagnostics that aids physicians in determining the tissue of origin for challenging tumors using gene expression profiling of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens.

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Press & Coverage

PR Newswire
Pathwork Launches Access to Industry-Leading Medical Data, Ending Guesswork for Life Insurance Brokers
Pathwork, an AI platform for life and health insurance distribution, has launched a new offering that provides life insurance brokers with on-demand access to prescription and medical claims data for underwriting, aiming to streamline the process and reduce uncertainties.
2026-06
Pathwork Blog
Announcing Pathwork's Seed Investment led by Costanoa Ventures
Pathwork announced a $3.5 million seed investment round led by Costanoa Ventures, with participation from Logos Fund, American Family Ventures, and Meridian Ventures, to accelerate the development and market introduction of their AI-powered tools for the insurance industry.
2025-09
Journal of Medical Internet Research
Streamlining a Patchwork - Exploring the Challenges of Digital Transformation in Pathology: Ethnographic Study
This ethnographic study explores the challenges faced by a pathology department in a German university hospital during its digital transformation, highlighting issues with human, time, and technological resources.
2025-07
PATH
Connected diagnostics and the future of global health - PATH
This article discusses how connected diagnostics can streamline healthcare efforts, improve data accuracy, and unlock the potential for analytics and decision support systems in global health.
2023-01
GenomeWeb
Response Genetics Buys Assets of Pathwork Diagnostics
Response Genetics acquired key assets of Pathwork Diagnostics, including its FDA-cleared and Medicare-reimbursed test for diagnosing metastatic, poorly differentiated, and undifferentiated cancer.
2013-08
GenomeWeb
Pathwork Dx Defunct; Future of Tissue of Origin Test Unclear
Pathwork Diagnostics ceased operations as of April 2, 2013, leaving the future of its Tissue of Origin Test uncertain.
2013-04
Clinical Lab Products
Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test to be Used in China
Pathwork Diagnostics partnered with Kindstar Global to provide the FDA-cleared, IVD-kit version of its Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test for use in China.
2013-03
Clinical Lab Products
Study Shows Benefits of Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test
A study presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) indicated that the Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test aided pathologists in diagnosing cancer cases, with over half of pathologists changing their initial diagnosis based on the test results.
2011-11

Frequently Asked Questions

Pathwork Diagnostics' flagship product was the Pathworku00ae Tissue of Origin Test, an FDA-cleared, microarray-based gene expression test. It was designed to help identify the primary site of metastatic, poorly differentiated, and undifferentiated tumors, including cancers of unknown primary, by analyzing gene expression patterns.
The test employed gene expression profiling by measuring the expression patterns of over 1,500 to 2,000 genes in a patient's tumor sample. These patterns were then compared to a proprietary database of 15 known tumor types, representing various morphologies, to provide an objective similarity score for potential tissue origins.
The Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test was the first and only FDA-cleared molecular diagnostic test for tissue of origin, initially cleared for fresh-frozen samples in 2008 and later for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues in 2010. This clearance underscored its clinical validation and regulatory adherence.
Pathwork Diagnostics as an independent entity is no longer active, having been acquired by Response Genetics, Inc. in 2013, which was subsequently acquired by Cancer Genetics Inc. (now Genecast) in 2015. The Tissue of Origin Test technology and its availability are now managed under these successor companies.
Yes, Pathwork Diagnostics entered into a research collaboration with Novartis in 2010 to discover clinically meaningful biomarker signatures for diagnostics across various cancer types. This partnership aimed to leverage their technology for broader applications in oncology.
In 2008, the Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test service was priced around $3,750, with an IVD kit at $1,875, and it was Medicare-reimbursed. However, as a novel test, securing broader insurance reimbursement often required convincing insurers of its clinical utility.
Pathwork Diagnostics offered the Tissue of Origin Test both as a service through its CLIA-certified laboratory and as an FDA-cleared in vitro diagnostic kit for clinical laboratories to run themselves. They also provided comprehensive reports and aimed to offer customer support to facilitate test adoption and interpretation.

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