Using Infrared Spectroscopy to Analyze Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the Breath of Patients With Lung Cancer
Using Infrared Spectroscopy to Analyze Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the Breath of Patients With Lung Cancer
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare breath samples from patients with lung cancer, those with stable lung nodules, and individuals without lung cancer. The main questions it aims to answer are whether breath patterns are different in these groups and to see if breath patterns change after treatment in patients with lung cancer.
Participants will be asked to provide one breath sample, and two if they get treated. They will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire about their background and medical history.
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.
Inclusion Criteria:
Study participants in the lung cancer and control cohorts must meet lung cancer screening criteria as defined by the PLCOm2012 and/or US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) risk criteria.
Exclusion Criteria:
Note: Breath sampling technology is sensitive to chemicals produced by tobacco, cannabis and e-cigarettes as well as alcohol (consumed by the subject or used by the operator around the equipment). We ask participants to refrain from: