Indian digital health startup MFine has launched a cancer screening feature on its app in partnership with oncology research and solutions provider Datar Cancer Genetics.

MFine users can now book a range of cancer diagnostic tests from Datar's EasyCheck. 

EasyCheck is a non-invasive, radiation-free test for early cancer detection. It has three types of test: EasyCheck360 detects cancer from various sites, including oral cavity, oesophagus, lungs, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and kidneys; EasyCheck FemmeSafe spots cancer in women in sites such as breasts, ovaries, endometrium and cervix; and EasyCheck Prostate is a test intended for men. Datar's cancer diagnostic offering is intended to be performed annually for individuals aged 30 and above.

WHY IT MATTERS

India's National Cancer Registry Programme estimated around 1.4 million Indian people have cancer in 2020. According to its report, incidence rates have increased in all cancer sites in both males and females. The five most common cancer sites were breast, lungs, mouth, cervix, uteri, and tongue.

For Viswanathan NS, CFO of MFine, "early cancer screening and detection are keys for higher survival rates, effective treatment, and reduced costs". 

THE LARGER TREND

Datar Genetics reported two years ago that circulating tumour cell clusters are a new cancer hallmark. These tumour cells are said to be undetectable in healthy individuals until screened through EasyCheck360. 

Meanwhile, it just received a breakthrough designation from the US Food and Drug Administration this week for its blood test for early prostate cancer detection. This comes a year after it obtained the same for its blood test to detect breast cancer.

In China, Alibaba Group's healthcare unit Alibaba Health has partnered with Berry Oncology to offer the latter's early liver cancer screening tool, Lai Si Ning, as part of the comprehensive cancer screening and prevention ecosystem it is building.

In other news, MFine has developed a free mobile app that measures blood oxygen saturation. Introduced last year, MFine Pulse uses machine learning to measure the absorption of light signals and detect blood volume changes from a user's fingertip. The app is said to have scored an 80% medical-grade accuracy. 

"We will continue to invest in deep tech to transform every smartphone into a health companion for consumers and a decision support assistant to all doctors. We believe smartphones as a health monitoring device will play a major role in the way users track their vital parameters and healthcare providers handle diagnostics," Viswanathan said.

ON THE RECORD

"The fastest way to eradicate cancer is to provide tests for early detection and screening. We need to understand that cancer can be treated effectively with an extremely high chance of survival if detected early. Providing people with an easy and non-invasive way to screen is imperative to make this change and witness a cancer-free India. Partnering with MFine now creates accessibility to a large number of people who can screen themselves [from] the comfort of their homes," said Samara Mahindra, director for new cancer initiatives at Datar Cancer Genetics.