 Thirdly, Pestell defined key target genes required for breast cancer stem cell expansion in vivo including p21Cip1, c-Jun, the canonical NF-κB pathway, the cell fate determination pathway protein DACH1, and CCR5.Finally, Pestell discovered CCR5 governs cancer metastasis in both breast and prostate cancer  providing the potential for therapeutic targeting with issued patents in this domain.Pestell is the founder of two biotechnology companies (ProstaGene and LightSeed) and holds patents in the areas of cancer diagnostics, therapeutics and technologies.