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Analysis of exhaled breath for screening of lung cancer patients

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Summary

The fast development of analytical techniques in the field of gas analysis can be compared to that of computers during the last two decades. Not only speed but also sensitivity of analysis has been greatly improved, sometimes by a factor of 100 or more. This technological development has fostered the analysis of exhaled breath. Since this can be done in real-time, very fast biological processes can be monitored. Also simulation and modelling of haemodynamics and lung mechanics become possible. During the next decade we will see miniaturized equipment (of the size of a cigarette box) appear. Here we review and illustrate the rich diversity of compounds observed in exhaled breath with a particular focus on lung cancer patients. Each of the many volatile compounds has its own particular biochemical background, and cell types with different genetic background have been shown to have a different pattern of released and consumed volatile compounds. Nevertheless we still lack an understanding, if and how genetic alterations, which are seen as the underlying cause of the transformation process, control the VOC phenotype observed in patients or cancer cell lines. The concentration pattern of volatile compounds in exhaled breath may be used in the future for phenotyping individuals in large-scale screening approaches. Also changes in VOC patterns may provide disease-relevant information (e.g. on the activity of metabolizing enzymes). Future applications will also include the follow-up of exogenous compounds which are ingested or inhaled as drugs, food components or components in cigarette smoke and metabolic products of these compounds.

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Abbreviations

SPME:

solid phase microextraction

TD:

thermodesorption

GCMS:

gas chromatography mass spectrometry

PTR-MS:

proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry

SIFT-MS:

selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

LOD:

limit of detection

LOQ:

limit of quantification

VOCs:

volatile organic compounds

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Breath Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dornbirn, Austria

    A. Amann, M. Ligor, T. Ligor, A. Bajtarevic, C. Ager, M. Pienz, H. Denz, M. Fiegl, A. Sponring, W. Filipiak, W. Miekisch, J. Schubert & B. Buszewski

  2. Univ.-Clinic for Anesthesia, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

    A. Amann, A. Bajtarevic, C. Ager, M. Pienz, A. Sponring & W. Filipiak

  3. Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland

    M. Ligor, T. Ligor & B. Buszewski

  4. Landeskrankenhaus Natters, Natters, Austria

    H. Denz, H. Jamnig & M. Hackl

  5. Univ.-Klinik für Innere Medizin 5 (Hämatologie und Onkologie), Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

    M. Fiegl & W. Hilbe

  6. Universitätsklinik für Strahlentherapie-Radioonkologie Innsbruck, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

    W. Weiss & P. Lukas

  7. Institution of Radio-Oncology, LKH Vöcklabruck, Vöcklabruck, Austria

    A. Haidenberger

  8. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    W. Miekisch & J. Schubert

  9. Daniel-Swarowski Research Laboratory, Department for Operative Medicine, Univ.-Klinik für Visceral-, Transplant- und Thoraxchirurgie, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

    J. Troppmair

Authors
  1. A. Amann
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  2. M. Ligor
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  3. T. Ligor
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  4. A. Bajtarevic
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  5. C. Ager
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  6. M. Pienz
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  7. H. Denz
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  8. M. Fiegl
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  9. W. Hilbe
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  10. W. Weiss
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  11. P. Lukas
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  12. H. Jamnig
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  13. M. Hackl
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  14. A. Haidenberger
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  15. A. Sponring
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  16. W. Filipiak
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  17. W. Miekisch
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  18. J. Schubert
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  19. J. Troppmair
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  20. B. Buszewski
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Amann.

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Amann, A., Ligor, M., Ligor, T. et al. Analysis of exhaled breath for screening of lung cancer patients. memo 3, 106–112 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-010-0219-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-010-0219-2

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