Cancer Research - Europa

BAMOD
Breath-Gas Analysis for Molecular-
Oriented Detection of Minimal Diseases
Summary
Keywords | Exhaled breath analysis | lung cancer | oesophageal cancer | medical diagnosis | therapeutic monitoring |
gas chromatography | mass spectrometry | PTR-MS | SIFT-MS | laser spectrometry | ion mobility spectrometry |
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Europe and
the western world. At present, diagnosis of cancer occurs
late in the course of the disease since available diagnostic
methods are not sufficiently sensitive and specific. An early
diagnosis of cancer would improve prognosis and treatment,
and could save thousands of lives a year.
There is strong evidence to suggest that particulate cancers
can be detected by a molecular analysis of exhaled air.
Breath analysis represents a new diagnostic technique that
is without risk for the patient, even if repeated frequently,
and can provide information beyond conventional analysis
of blood and urine. Recent results suggest that detection of
diff erent kinds of cancer is possible by means of breath
analysis in the very early stages of the disease.
This project is focused on the diagnosis of minimal disease
and early stages of lung and oesophageal cancer.
The analytical techniques will be gas chromatography
with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS), proton transfer
reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), selected ion
flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS), laser spectrometry
and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS).
In order to establish a reliable clinical method for the diagnosis
of minimal residual cancer diseases, clinical expertise,
basic research and technical development is necessary.
The European consortium set up to pursue this research
work involves specialists with skills in the fields of basic
and clinical research, and analytical instrument development.
Thus, the consortium has the expertise to investigate
and screen exhaled breath for many molecular species, to
identify specific cancer markers and the statistical tools
to treat the data.
Problem
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the western
world. More than 940 000 people died of lung cancer in
Europe in the year 2000. These diseases have a tremendous
impact on healthcare systems and economics. At present,
the diagnosis of cancer often happens late in the course of
the disease; early diagnosis would improve prognosis and
treatment and could save thousands of lives.
106 CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
Aim
The objectives of the project are:
• the identification of sensitive and specific molecular
marker sets in human breath for the detection of early
cancer stages;
• the development of reliable analytical methods to detect
these markers in the clinical environment;
• the production of easy-to-use and non-expensive equipment
to facilitate breath analysis as a novel cancer
screening tool.
The proposal is centred on five studies: in vivo lung cancer
and oesophageal cancer studies, a study of cancer cell lines
in vitro, a study of immune-system related cells and a study
of bacterial cell lines.
The SMEs in our consortium will develop analytical methodology
for subsequent use in clinical applications.
Expected results
The major objective is the establishment of a non-invasive,
breathbased test for early detection of lung and oesophageal
cancer. The development of sensitive detection technology,
a database of molecular markers related to cancer, and
the development of specific sensors for such markers is
anticipated.
Potential applications
The developed breath-based tests for the detection of lung
and oesophageal cancer should be introduced to assist
clinical diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring.