Hyderabad-Startup Is Working On A Non-Painful, Non-Invasive Early Cancer Detection

The World Health Organization reports that at the moment cancer is the leading cause of death globally. In India, in 2018, death by cancers were 784,821. Cancer deaths are expected to rise to more than 13.1 million by 2030. Controlling risk factors like physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, alcohol use, and tobacco use can help prevent several cancer types. However, some cancers if detected early needed to be treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. These invasive procedures are risky and painful. To make early cancer detection more affordable and accessible, Oncophenomics, a biotech startup from Hyderabad is working on a liquid biopsy test for early cancer detection. The test uses urine or blood samples.

According to Shibi Chakravarthy, the startup’s founder, cancer patients typically need to undergo a surgical biopsy involving procedures such as fine needle biopsy or open surgical biopsy. In this kind of procedures, doctors take out a tissue which is then examined by the pathology department to see whether the patient has cancer or not.

However, this procedure is an invasive one. Thus, there’s a lot of risks involved in the test. Moreover, outpatients cannot undergo the procedure. So Oncophenomics has come up with the liquid biopsy, which is a non-invasive procedure. Even though in the US and UK, there are a lot of companies have already done these tests, Oncophenomics is the first in India to come up with a comprehensive liquid biopsy test.

There are three different types of treatment that cancer patients go for: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Previously, everybody was receiving the same treatment; however, doctors are now customizing treatment depending on the individual patient. Shibi says, “But our mission is to find the right drug for the right patient.” The startup’s approach is to understand how the cancer is attacked by the immune system.

The company deploys computer vision technology, why is why the company is named Oncophenomics. Its founder, Shibi is a member of a group of research scientists and immune-oncologists that work with Dr. James Allision, a Nobel Prize winner.

The startup has been carrying out tests in its state-of-the-art genomics laboratory. Before the company’s procedure can go commercial, it needs to undergo clinical trials and receive approvals.

At the moment, Oncophenomics already has cervical cancer screening tests. Diagnostic tests are already available. Patients need to answer a questionnaire about family history as well as inherited conditions.

Shibi says:

It is relatively easy to diagnose breast cancer, but it’s a whole different case with ovarian cancer. Only when the tumor has grown to a certain size will people know about it. Oncophenomics’ liquid biopsy test can also be used for ovarian cancer early detection.

Lung cancer can also be detected while for prostate cancer, they need to run tests on urine samples.

Shibi continues:

Oncophenomics is looking forward to receiving funding from government schemes like the Ayushman Bharat Scheme and the CGHS. And when the test is covered by insurance companies, it is practically free.