Major win against oral cancer
Ahandheld device for early, accurate, and costeffective detection of pre-cancerous lesions in the mouth developed by a Kerala-based medtech startup has been winning multiple accolades lately. And the timing could not be better as the World Cancer Day, celebrated on February 4, every year, is just around the corner.
After being adjudged the winner of Startup India Grand Challenge 2021 and Anjani Mashelkar Inclusive Innovation Award 2021, Sascan Meditech was recently in the news for its felicitation at the National Startups Award 2021. The startup has built a biophotonics technology-based device for early detection of oral cancer.
The much required emphasis on the diagnosis of oral cancer in India is indeed very crucial today. Oral cancer, ensuing with an unexplained growth in the mouthparts such as lips, cheeks, sinuses, tongue, hard and soft palate, the base of the mouth extended to the oropharynx, is the most common cancer in India amongst men.
As compared to the west, the concern of oral cancer is significantly higher in India as about 70 per cent of the cases are reported in the advanced stages. In fact, India is considered as the world capital for oral cancer cases as it shares one-third of the global burden.
In India, epidemiologically, Kerala has the lowest incidence of oral cancer while West Bengal reports the highest. In the western regions of Maharashtra, the highest occurrence of oral malignancy is reported in the age group of 60 years, followed by between 40 and 59 years with a male to female ratio of 2:1.
Because of detection in the late phase, the chances of cure are very low, almost negative; leaving fiveyear survival rates around 20 per cent only.
According to a study published by the Tata Memorial Centre, the unit cost of treating advanced stages of oral cancer (Rs 2,02,892) was found to be 42 per cent greater than early stages (Rs 1,17,135). The study also revealed that India spent approximately Rs 2,386 crore in 2020 on oral cancer treatment, paid for by insurance schemes, government and private sector spending, out of pocket payments and charitable donations or a combination of these.
Thus, early detection is very important to reduce the expenses and the mortality rate of patients suffering from oral cancer. Also, since the conventional diagnostic methodologies are expensive, time-consuming, need expert technicians, sometimes require surgical intervention, etc., there is a huge demand for oral cancer diagnostic techniques that are non-invasive, rapid, and easy-to use.
And we are glad that besides Sascan Meditech, there are multiple research projects currently being conducted in the country to address this concern.
For instance, the International Institute of Information Technology in Hyderabad is working on an automated solution that requires just a smartphone as an early oral cancer screening tool. On the other hand, scientists at Ahmedabad University’s School of Arts and Sciences are developing a non-invasive saliva-based test for early detection of oral cancer, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, US. In line with this, Nagpur-based startup ErlySign is also working on building non-invasive, early test kits for detecting oral cancer using saliva.
Further, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kalyani, an autonomous institute funded by the Department of Biotechnology, has created a database of genomic variations in oral cancer; the first of its kind in the world. The repository - which will be updated annually with variation data from new oral cancer patients from different regions of India and southeast Asia - has the potential to support advances in oral cancer research.
These emerging advanced techniques, however, need the endorsement and encouragement of professionals for integration in clinical diagnostic practices. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing that January 16 will be celebrated as National Startup Day, a much required push has been given to innovation, thereby opening doors for many more innovative products.