Breath Test to Detect Early Signs of Lung Cancer, Study

A breath tests may now be able to diagnose lung cancer in its initial stages, according to a latest U.S. study.

Researchers at the University of Louisville claim that particular compounds present in the exhaled breath may help trace early signs of lung cancer, one of the most common cancers in the world and also the leading cause of death among Americans.

Led by researcher Michael Bousamra, M.D., the team developed a silicone microprocessor and a mass spectrometer. This silicone microprocessor was layered with an amino-oxy compound that sticks to carbonyl compounds in exhaled breath. Using this, they tested the exhaled breath and looked for the presence of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to detect the presence or absence of lung cancer. These VOCs are cancer specific compounds.

These carbonyl compounds, aldehydes and ketones,   are produced by the human body in low concentration.

The researchers conducted tests on people who had suspicious lung lesions detected through CT Scans. The exhaled breath was then tested to trace the presence of cancer related compounds. The findings gathered using the breathalyzer were later matched with pathologic and clinical results.

 "Although the data are preliminary, we found that patients with an elevation of three or four cancer-specific carbonyl compounds was predictive of lung cancer in 95% of patients with a pulmonary nodule or mass," said Dr. Bousamra. "Conversely, the absence of elevated VOC levels was predictive of a benign mass in 80% of patients."

"Instead of sending patients for invasive biopsy procedures when a suspicious lung mass is identified, our study suggests that exhaled breath could identify which patients may be directed for an immediate intraoperative biopsy and resection,"Dr. Bousamra said in a statement.

The researchers also noticed that high levels of carbonyl concentrations returned to normal once the complete resection was over in those with a malignant tumor.

Similar to this concept, exhaled breath was even used to detect colorectal cancer.

A decline in the rate of lung cancer among Americans was noticed from the years 2005-2009, it still is the leading cause of death. The risk of getting lung cancer increases with age especially for men. Smoking, secondhand smoking and exposure to asbestos or radon are the other risks. In the year 2010, nearly 14 percent of all cancer diagnoses and 28 percent of cancer deaths were due to lung cancer, reports CDC.

"Since 1964 when the first Surgeon General's report on the health consequences of smoking was published, cigarette smoking cessation rates increased and cigarette smoking initiation rates decreased more rapidly among men than women," according to the CDC report.  

The study was presented Tuesday at the 50th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons in Orlando, Florida.