Breath Analysis in Early Stage Lung Cancer Using Infrared Spectroscopy

The aim of this study is to sample and analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from lung cancer patients and individuals without lung cancer ("healthy" controls). The breath sample analysis will help investigators describe and identify profiles of VOCs found in the breath of patients with lung cancer when compared to normal breath profiles using infrared spectroscopy. This work will help validate early proof of concept results conducted with prototype technology and later stage NSCLC breath samples, and inform future breath testing analysis.

Globally, lung cancer accounts for the most cancer deaths in both sexes combined. It is believed to develop slowly through progressive accumulation of genetic mutations, hence the disease allows time for diagnosis and curative surgical treatment. Five year survival rates for non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) can range from 57-61% when detected in the early stages of disease. This is compared with a survival rate of approximately 6% once distant metastases are present. However, disease diagnosis typically occurs when it has progressed to an advanced stage when patients present with signs and symptoms. Therefore, technologies capable of asymptomatic disease detection will significantly impact lung cancer specific mortality. Metabolomic profiling of cancer measures compounds produced as a result of cellular activity including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. Infrared spectroscopy is a proven technique for breath analysis that can measure chemical concentrations in the parts per trillion range for certain VOCs. When coupled with machine learning techniques, this has the potential to be a novel approach for disease detection using exhaled breath.