Advanced Breathalyzer Can Screen for Cancer

Two clinical studies have found that a new breathalyzer accurately predicted 85% of lung cancers and 88% of breast cancers. The results were reported in Chest (2003;123:2115-2123) and in The Breast Journal (2003;9[3]:84-191), respectively.

The study involved 178 patients whose chest x-rays were suspicious for lung cancer, 201 women whose mammograms were suspicious for breast cancer, and a comparison group of cancer-free volunteers. The research was funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and performed at medical centers in the USA and UK. To confirm the findings, the NIH has funded a larger multicenter study of the breath test for lung cancer scheduled to be completed in early 2004. A similar breath test for heart-transplant rejection has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a Humanitarian Use Device.

The portable breath collection apparatus (BCA), which can collect samples almost anywhere, was developed by Menssana Research (Fort Lee, NJ, USA; www.menssanaresearch.com). The subject sits and breathes quietly into the BCA for two minutes, while it captures breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on a small sorbent trap. The trap is then sent to a laboratory for analysis by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. A sample of room air is collected at the same time as the breath sample, so inhaled VOCs can be subtracted from the breath VOCs. The test has identified a new set of markers of oxidated stress known as the breath methylated alkane contour (BMAC). Changes in BMAC reveal distinctive changes in different diseases. Each can be identified by its own breath "fingerprint.”

"This test usually detects around 200 different chemicals in a person's breath, and our earlier research showed that some of these chemicals are markers of cancer. We looked for these cancer markers in people who are being screened for lung cancer and breast cancer,” said Dr. Michael Phillips, of Menssana Research, who directed both studies.




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