Breath gas aldehydes as biomarkers of lung cancer

Abstract

There is experimental evidence that volatile substances in human breath can reflect presence of neoplasma. Volatile aldehydes were determined in exhaled breath of 12 lung cancer patients, 12 smokers and 12 healthy volunteers. Alveolar breath samples were collected under control of expired CO 2 . Reactive aldehydes were transformed into stable oximes by means of on-fiber-derivatization (SPME-OFD). Aldehyde concentrations in the ppt and ppb level were determined by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Exhaled concentrations were corrected for inspired values. Exhaled C 1 -C 10 aldehydes could be detected in all healthy volunteers, smokers and lung cancer patients. Concentrations ranged from 7 pmol/ l (161 pptV) for butanal to 71 nmol/l (1,582 ppbV) for formaldehyde. Highest inspired concentrations were found for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde (0-55 nmol/l and 0-13 nmol/l, respectively). Acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, heptanal and decanal concentrations showed no significant differences for cancer patients, smokers and healthy volunteers. Exhaled pentanal, hexanal, octanal and nonanal concentrations were significantly higher in lung cancer patients than in smokers and healthy controls (p pentanal 5 0.001; p hexanal 5 0.006; p octanal 5 0.014; p nonanal 5 0.025). Sensitivity and specificity of this method were comparable to the diagnostic certitude of conventional serum markers and CT imaging. Lung cancer patients could be identified by means of exhaled pentanal, hexanal, octanal and nonanal concentrations. Exhaled aldehydes reflect aspects of oxidative stress and tumor-specific tissue composition and metabolism. Noninvasive recognition of lung malignancies may be realized if analytical skills, biochemical knowledge and medical expertise are combined into a joint effort.

Biogenic aldehyde determination by reactive paper spray ionization mass spectrometry

“…One of the driving forces for this study is the fact that the presence of straight chain aldehydes in breath has been linked to the lung cancer [34]. Therefore, easy rapid methods of identification of straight chain aldehydes could be important in diagnosis.…”

Current Developments and Future Trends in Solid-phase Microextraction Techniques for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analyses

“…Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human breath are good biomarkers for the diagnosis of cancer [126][127][128][129][130][131][132] and the detection of Helicobacter pylori. 133 Tedlar bags and specific breath sampling tubes, such as Bio-VOC ® and Alveolar breath gas samplers, are usually used for SPME sampling of human breath, and the analytes in collected gas are extracted by direct exposure of SPME fiber in bag sand tubes.…”

Effect of Noble Metal Addition on Co3O4-Based Gas Sensors for Selective NO Detection

“…(1)(2)(3) NO concentration in human breath is associated with airway inflammatory disorders such as asthma and bronchiectasis. (4)(5)(6) Although monitoring NO concentration in human breath is one of the best noninvasive screening tests for the early diagnosis of these inflammatory disorders, this screening process requires an analytic device with sufficient accuracy at the ppb level.…”