Breath Metabolome Profiling Using Porous Carbon Material for Early Diagnosis of Laryngeal Cancer: Preliminary Results

TL;DR

This study explores using breath analysis with porous carbon material to detect laryngeal cancer early, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods.

Contribution

The study introduces a non-invasive breath sampling method using porous carbon material for early laryngeal cancer detection.

Findings

Cancer patients showed elevated levels of specific VOCs like diethyl phthalate and trimethyl-dodecane.

PCA analysis revealed clear separation between cancer and control groups based on breath VOC profiles.

Porous carbon material effectively captured and stabilized VOCs for analysis.

Abstract

Early detection of laryngeal cancer is essential for effective treatment, yet current diagnostic methods are often invasive and uncomfortable. This study investigates a non-invasive approach based on the analysis of exhaled breath, which contains volatile compounds that may reflect disease-related metabolic changes. Breath samples were collected from individuals with and without laryngeal cancer using a specially designed porous carbon material that efficiently captures these compounds. The chemical profiles of the samples were then analyzed and compared. Preliminary results revealed apparent differences between the two groups. These findings provide a basis for further research into breath analysis as a supportive tool for early cancer diagnosis.

Background: Early cancer detection remains a critical challenge in clinical oncology, requiring further development of innovative diagnostic methods with improved sensitivity and specificity. This study addresses the issue by investigating the potential of exhaled air metabolome analysis, using highly porous carbon material for sample collection, as a promising approach for the early diagnosis of laryngeal cancer. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in exhaled breath are known to reflect underlying metabolic changes. This research explores the feasibility of using VOC-derived metabolomic signatures as non-invasive biomarkers for cancer detection. Methods: The primary objective was to evaluate exhaled air metabolome analysis as a diagnostic tool for individuals at risk of respiratory tract malignancies. The study involved 36 participants, including 13 patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and 23 healthy individuals serving as a control group. Breath samples were collected using a highly porous carbon material, selected for its superior sorption properties, enabling efficient capture and stabilization of VOCs. These samples were subsequently analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify and compare VOC patterns between the two groups. Results: Preliminary analysis revealed apparent differences in VOC profiles between cancer patients and healthy individuals, with cancer patients exhibiting elevated peak intensities for specific metabolites such as diethyl phthalate, nonadecane, and trimethyl-dodecane. Multivariate analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated separation between the two groups, reflecting systematic differences in exhaled VOC signatures. Conclusions: This initial study supports the potential of breath VOC profiling for laryngeal cancer detection, laying the groundwork for further validation and refinement of this diagnostic approach. The use of porous carbon material facilitated efficient VOC capture, supporting its role in non-invasive breath analysis.

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