8 complexity of metastasis. The technology is primed to assist with novel drug discovery, drug repurposing and profiling current anticancer leads or candidates for their anti-metastatic effect. The first platform, METAssay® dissects metastasis biology into multiple in-vitro phenotypic assays. Each mimics a particular facet of metastasis and is capable of differentiating between growing and moving tumour cells that belong to the same tumour. So far, the platform has succeeded in identifying three drugs already approved for non-cancer indications that influence metastasis. A retrospective clinical study of 100 colorectal cancer patients confirmed their positive effects on patient survival. Mestastop’s second platform, known as METSCAN®, integrates the data generated by METAssay® , normalising it by using actual patient sample data. This process allows for the distribution of adjustments across the steps of metastasis, making them more relevant to the patient’s perspective. By inputting all experimental data into METSCAN® and applying machine learning algorithms, analysis of patient samples against their respective baseline of moving and growing cell phenotypes is made possible. A summative score that indicates the probability of metastasis is then attributed to the patient. METSCAN® has already helped to identify critical steps of metastasis and novel, first-in-class targets which are being validated by genetic engineering. When clinicians are able to begin using METSCAN® as a diagnostic tool, it will enable them to select primary tumour patients with a higher risk of metastasis as the optimum cohort for clinical studies. Biotechnology research and development company, Mestastop Solutions, focuses on addressing the complex issue of metastasis. With the purpose of improving the chances of survival of cancer patients, Mestastop has created three unique technology platforms which have exceeded all expectations. We take a look at the company and its progress to date. According to the World Health Organization, cancer is still the leading cause of death worldwide with around 10 million deaths being attributed to the disease in 2020 alone. Despite the success in treating early detected cancers, there is one issue which accounts for around 90% of cancer deaths – metastasis. In recent decades, the surgery required to remove a cancerous tumour has become much more accessible. For many patients, it’s a relief to find that they are later given a clean bill of health and are free to return to normal life. But of course, we are all too aware that after receiving one cancer diagnosis, the chances of one or more subsequent tumours appearing become much higher. The reasons why, and the likelihood of when tumours would reappear, has left oncologists baffled. But with 5-year survival rates dropping from 80% to less than 30% when a tumour metastasizes, it remains a mystery why the vast majority of cancer drugs are unable to address metastasis. In fact, in 2019, only one of over 215 approved cancer drugs tackled metastasis, leaving patients with a dismal prognosis. One company that aims to change those statistics is Bangalorebased Mestastop Solutions. Founded in 2018 by Arnab Roy Chowdhury,PhD and Debabani Roy Chowdhury,PhD the company set out to find methods by which to identify the key signatures of cancer metastasis. A -post doc of Johnson Hopkins SoM and Harvard Medical School, Dr Arnab Roy Chowdhury began his professional career battling parasites before turning his attention to disease pathophysiology and oncology in 2009. His life partner, Dr Debabani, is an expert in cellular immunology and cell biology and is responsible for 15 scientific publications. As part of its aim to facilitate predictive diagnostic testing and drug discovery, the start-up has launched three technology platforms. These proprietary platforms use both in vitro and in vivo testing along with patient tumour translational validation to unravel the Best Metastasis R&D Specialists 2023
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