Nanoscale nuclear architecture mapping (nanoNAM), leveraging spectral interferometry, identifies local alterations in cell nuclei's optical density. This technique successfully detected early carcinogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract, even in histologically non-cancerous tissue, indicating its potential for cancer risk stratification. We demonstrate the potential of nanoNAM as a label-free method for stratifying cancer risk in patients predisposed to developing cancer such as conditions like Barrett’s esophagus and ulcerative colitis. Its biological basis will also be discussed. As nanoNAM can be integrated into clinical pipelines using existing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, it holds promise as an auxiliary tool for precision cancer prevention, identifying high-risk patients who require extensive surveillance.
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