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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : June 19, 2014 3:06 PM IST
The biggest problem with cancer is that it is usually diagnosed late since the symptoms usually overlap with a lot of other diseases. To top that, the diagnosis is cumbersome, costly and long-drawn. With scientists and researchers constantly working to beat this challenge, cancer diagnosis might just get easier and faster! Researchers have developed a new groundbreaking device that uses exhaled breath to accurately detect lung cancer and identify its stage of progression. The breathalyser test is embedded with a 'NaNose' nanotech chip to literally 'sniff out' cancer tumours.
The study was conducted on 358 patients who were either diagnosed with or at risk for lung cancer. 'Lung cancer diagnoses require invasive procedures such as bronchoscopies, computer-guided biopsies, or surgery. Our new device combines several novel technologies with a new concept - using exhaled breath as a medium of diagnosing cancer,' said Dr Nir Peled of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine. 'Our NaNose was able to detect lung cancer with 90 per cent accuracy even when the lung nodule was tiny and hard to sample. It was even able to discriminate between subtypes of cancer, which was unexpected,' said Peled. Lung cancer tumours produce chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which easily evaporate into the air and produce a discernible scent profile.
Professor Hossam Haick of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology harnessed nanotechnology to develop the highly sensitive NaNose chip, which detects the unique 'signature' of VOCs in exhaled breath. In four out of five cases, the device differentiated between benign and malignant lung lesions and even different cancer subtypes. 'Cancer cells not only have a different and unique smell or signature, you can even discriminate between subtypes and advancement of the disease. The bigger the tumour, the more robust the signature,' said Peled. The device and subsequent analysis accurately sorted healthy people from people with early-stage lung cancer 85 per cent of the time, and healthy people from those with advanced lung cancer 82 per cent of the time. (Read: Beware Vitamin E supplements could cause lung cancer!)
The test also accurately distinguished between early and advanced lung cancer 79 per cent of the time. 'The device could prove valuable in helping determine patients who need more intensive screening for lung cancer. We're hoping to have a device that would be able to give you a go/no-go result ? something's wrong, go get an X-ray,' said Peled. The Boston-based company Alpha Szenszor has licensed the technology and hopes to introduce it to the market within the next few years. The study was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago. (Read: Now, a therapeutic vaccine to treat lung cancer)
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer refers to uncontrolled cellular growth in the lung tissues. These lumps and tumours interfere with the normal functioning of the lungs, stopping it from performing its primary duty of providing oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Lung cancer, considered one of the most deadly forms of the disease, causes close to 1.4 million deaths per year, according to a World Health Organization estimate. The two main types of this cancer are small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).
Tobacco smoking, both active and passive, is the foremost reason for development of lung cancer. According to a new study, smoking ultra-long or long cigarettes can put you at greater risk of lung cancer. Heavy exposure to asbestos, radon, uranium, arsenic, genetic predisposition, and lung scarring from any prior illness can all cause lung cancer. Due to environmental pollution, lung cancer is increasing rapidly among Indian women in the 45 to 55 age group. Fine particulate matter in the air that lodges itself in the lungs causes harm over time, and damage starts early.
Cough, haemoptysis (coughing up blood), wheezing, shortness of breath, weight loss and chest pains are some of the common symptoms. But these symptoms usually show up in the advanced stage, often making the treatment ineffective. Scientists are now developing a breathalyser device that can detect lung cancer in early stages. Lung cancer may be diagnosed on chest X-rays and CT scans. Biopsy confirms the diagnosis. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, either alone or in combination. Some of the latest advances in treatment are experimental drug called MK-3475, combination of drugs in targeted therapy against lung adenocarcinomas and therapeutic vaccine.
With inputs from PTI
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