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Electronic nose detects cancer in patient's breath
R Colin Johnson
8/12/2010 3:51 PM EDT
PORTLAND, Ore.—An electronic nose may soon be able to detect cancer using a nanosensor array designed at the Israel Institute of Technology, according to researchers. The breathalyzer-like device used gold nanoparticles arrayed on a silicon substrate to identify not only the presence of cancer, but the specific kind detected.
The nanosensor array was fabricated from inter-digitated gold electrodes which were arranged in a circular pattern and deposited by an electron-beam onto silicon wafers capped with a thermal oxide. The millimeter-sized device separated its electrodes by just by 20 microns—each coated with nanoparticles created with "guest" receptors designed to attract a different type of cancer-marker molecule in breath. The assembly was them mounted on a printed circuit board inside the breathalyzer-like device. When exposed to breath from patients, any molecules occupying the guest receptors on the nanoparticles changed the electric conductivity of the electrode, thus identifying the type of cancer detected.
In tests with five different test groups of 177 volunteers, the nanosensor array was able to distinguish the breath of healthy individuals from those with lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Sensitivity required only a few molecules per billion to detect the cancerous states.
Next, the researchers say they want to develop a clinical version that can be used during routine annual medical examinations and which can not only can detect active cancers, but can also provide early warnings by detecting precancerous states too.
The nanosensor array was fabricated from inter-digitated gold electrodes which were arranged in a circular pattern and deposited by an electron-beam onto silicon wafers capped with a thermal oxide. The millimeter-sized device separated its electrodes by just by 20 microns—each coated with nanoparticles created with "guest" receptors designed to attract a different type of cancer-marker molecule in breath. The assembly was them mounted on a printed circuit board inside the breathalyzer-like device. When exposed to breath from patients, any molecules occupying the guest receptors on the nanoparticles changed the electric conductivity of the electrode, thus identifying the type of cancer detected.
Researcher Hossam Haick led the Technion team in designing gold-nanoparticle sensors whose electrical conductivity changes when exposed to cancer markers in a patient's breath.
In tests with five different test groups of 177 volunteers, the nanosensor array was able to distinguish the breath of healthy individuals from those with lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Sensitivity required only a few molecules per billion to detect the cancerous states.
Next, the researchers say they want to develop a clinical version that can be used during routine annual medical examinations and which can not only can detect active cancers, but can also provide early warnings by detecting precancerous states too.
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phoenixdave
8/12/2010 7:05 PM EDT
Without a doubt, this would be an incredible diagnostic tool for the medical community, potentially saving many thousands of lives by detecting cancers in their early stages when treatments are most successful. Hopefully it's cost will be kept at a level where even the smallest clinic can afford it.
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selinz
8/12/2010 8:43 PM EDT
This sounds as though it could even be in the range of a home glucose test, less than $100. The thing that would be interesting to see is the % of false positives and/or false negatives. Either of these would be a "Calling all lawyers" shout.
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allinamark
8/13/2010 1:30 AM EDT
Really a educative and informative post, the post is good in all regards,I am glad to read this post.Excellent news, I look forward to reading more.Thank you for bringing more information to this topic for me.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
8/13/2010 8:06 AM EDT
I recall reading about a dog that was trained to detect certain diseases in humans via breath, so I'm not surprised that the technique is being adapted using an "electronic nose." There was also a famous story about a dog that refused to continue a walk, and insisted that his master return home, when his owner was having a heart attack. The owner didn't realize it until the symptoms became noticeable after he returned home. The dog saved his life, in that the owner was able to phone for help from home. Similarly, the device mentioned in this article would be a boon not only to medical practitioners, but home users, as another post mentioned. Well done, Hossam Halck.
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IqbalSingh.Josan
8/13/2010 2:36 PM EDT
This breakthrough is a watershed development in cancer detection systems. Conventional systems use blood samples and are very cumbersome, also not very predictable. The breath analyser that uses breakthrough nano technology to detect cancer cells is truly going to be a revolutionary cancer detection device. It will be great if this technology can be used to develop affordable and easily accessible cancer detection systems for the masses. Visit us at uspurtek.com
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DrQuine
8/13/2010 7:14 PM EDT
Doctors have long used their sense of smell as clues to diagnose certain conditions including diabetes and strep throat (as well as dental problems). If a technology can be developed that has the sensitivity and specificity to reliably diagnose cancers, it would be a wonderful advance since it would be noninvasive and potentially enable population screening at low cost.
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KB3001
8/14/2010 12:14 PM EDT
A lot of questions need to be answered before we can say for sure if it's a breakthrough or not. For instance, what's the sensitivity and specificity of this technique? especially at different stages of cancer development?
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goafrit
8/16/2010 7:50 AM EDT
The problem is that over the course of the last 20 years, many technologies that were praised have disappointed in this area than succeeded. No one knows, but research must continue.
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